Toll waiver at Mumbai entry points is success of agitation by MNS, says Raj Thackeray

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS chief Raj Thackeray has said that toll has been waived for light motor vehicles at Mumbais five entry points because of his partys agitation against the levy reported news agency PTIHe was speaking in Thane on Friday after meeting officials of the Thane Nagar police stationThe toll waiver at Mumbai entry points is a success of the MNSs agitation Everyone is happy today with this move After many years of agitation we have finally succeeded and I congratulate all workers of our party But the cases registered against them during the agitation should now be withdrawn he said reported PTIToll is being collected for the past several years and we have no idea how much has been collected or where that money has gone Thackeray said reported PTIDuring the meeting with the police officials the MNS president demanded a thorough probe into the molestation case involving an 11yearold girl here The accused in the case was arrested but was granted bail by a local courtThackeray urged the police to record the victims statement again and then proceed with the investigation in the actEven if the accused belongs to any political party he should be dealt with strictly he addedMaha Govt announces toll waiver for light motor vehicles entering MumbaiMaharashtra Government on Monday announced a complete toll waiver for light motor vehicles entering Mumbai at all five booths with effect from October 14 at midnightThere was a demand for the toll waiver due to the traffic jams at the toll booths Chief Minister Eknath Shinde told reporters after the state cabinet approved the toll waiver decision at a meeting held in MumbaiThe move comes ahead of the upcoming state assembly polls likely to be announced in a day an official saidThe toll waiver is expected to bring relief to people travelling in and out of Mumbai ahead of Diwali Commuters will be able to travel without paying tolls at the five booths Dahisar LBS RoadMulund Eastern Express HighwayMulund Airoli Creek Bridge and VashiLight motor vehicles include cars hatchbacks sedans and SUVs jeeps vans autorickshaws taxis delivery vans and small trucksMore than six lakh vehicles cross Mumbai daily of which 80 per cent are light motor vehicles the official saidThe toll waiver move would save time and fuel and reduce pollution Shinde said It was a long pending demand to waive toll at Mumbais entry points Many activists had approached the court demanding the toll waiverJust like we implemented Laadki Bahin Laadka Bhau and Laadka Kisan now we have taken this masterstroke decision for the commuters he saidMaharashtras Public Works public enterprises minister Dada Bhuse said between Rs 45 and Rs 75 were charged for light motor vehicles at any of the five toll boothsThere are around 70000 heavy vehicles travelling to and from Mumbai daily he added Heavy vehicles are categorised by their gross vehicle weight exceeding 7500 kg and include trucks trailers tankers and other goods carriers vehiclesWith inputs from PTI