Nitesh seeks e-way toll exemption for Ganesh fest travellers

Mumbai, Aug 17 (PTI) Congress MLA Nitesh Rane haswritten a letter to the Maharashtra PWD Ministry seeking roadtoll exemption for those visiting Konkan region viaMumbai-Pune expressway during the upcoming Ganesh festival. He said as a result of the Mahad bridge collapseincident, people would be forced to take the expressway routeto reach Konkan, where Ganesh festival is celebrated in a bigway. "The recent bridge collapse incident at Mahad and theinefficiency of the state government to properly maintain andimprove the Mumbai-Goa highway has led people to use theMumbai-Pune Expressway to reach Konkan. "During the (recently-concluded) Assembly session, thegovernment had told the Legislature that the condition ofMumbai-Goa highway, currently riddled with huge potholes, willbe improved before the Ganeshotsav season. But, the governmentfailed to live up to its promise," Rane said. "Why should the people pay toll at the Mumbai-PuneExpressway because of the inefficiency of the government? TheMahad tragedy on the Mumbai-Goa highway has only worsened thecondition of travellers, who will now be forced to use theMumbai-Pune expressway in large numbers," he said. The Congress leader added that if the governmentfailedto act on the demands, his party workers will start anagitation to seek justice for those living in Konkan region. A large number of people, mainly those hailing fromKonkan and employed in Mumbai, head to their villages in thecoastal districts to celebrate the ten-day festival.PTI MM NP SRYBAS