Mumbai: A day after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Chief Raj Thackeray questioned the toll collection policy of the state government, hundreds of MNS activists on Wednesday attacked and damaged toll posts in various parts of the state, police said.
The activists attacked toll posts in Thane district's Virar and Vasai towns, district headquarters of Nashik, Aurangabad and Buldhana, among other places in Maharashtra. They chased away toll collectors from Virar and Nashik toll posts, according to police.
Training guns on the state government, the MNS Chief on Tuesday had questioned the collection of toll tax in the state. "It is not wrong to impose toll, but to keep on collecting it even after the costs have been recovered is wrong," Thackeray said.
Thackeray had also sought support from anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare, who while endorsing the MNS's stand on toll tax had asked the party to refrain from violence.
The MNS has also found support among many road users who have been demanding an end to the toll collection.
Referring to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan's promise to make Maharashtra "plastic-free," Thackeray demanded that first the chief minister should make the state toll-free to relieve the road users of this burden.
The MNS chief also raised doubts over the manner in which the toll collection was being carried out across the state "without any transparency".
"What is the cost of the project; within what period has the cost been recovered; how many vehicles pass through these toll posts daily... Nothing is displayed at the posts. Yet, collections are being carried out... All these questions need to be answered," Thackeray demanded.
MNS workers on Tuesday trooped to various toll posts in Mumbai's Dahisar suburb, Thane's Vasai, and in Nashik district, leading to major traffic snarls, police said.
Mumbai, India's financial capital, has five entry points, which generate an estimated annual revenue of over Rs.2 billion on an average from toll collection, one of the major sources of income for the state government.
The collection is made either directly by the government agencies engaged in building infrastructure or by contractors appointed for the purpose.
The activists attacked toll posts in Thane district's Virar and Vasai towns, district headquarters of Nashik, Aurangabad and Buldhana, among other places in Maharashtra. They chased away toll collectors from Virar and Nashik toll posts, according to police.
Training guns on the state government, the MNS Chief on Tuesday had questioned the collection of toll tax in the state. "It is not wrong to impose toll, but to keep on collecting it even after the costs have been recovered is wrong," Thackeray said.
The MNS has also found support among many road users who have been demanding an end to the toll collection.
Advertisement
The MNS chief also raised doubts over the manner in which the toll collection was being carried out across the state "without any transparency".
Advertisement
MNS workers on Tuesday trooped to various toll posts in Mumbai's Dahisar suburb, Thane's Vasai, and in Nashik district, leading to major traffic snarls, police said.
Advertisement
The collection is made either directly by the government agencies engaged in building infrastructure or by contractors appointed for the purpose.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Raj Thackeray's Convoy Attacked With Tomatoes In Maharashtra's Beed For Aaditya Thackeray, A Challenge Likely From Uncle's Party In Worli Seat "Will Fight 200 To 250 Seats": Raj Thackeray To Go Solo In Maharashtra Polls Mamata Banerjee's Sunday Ultimatum To CBI For Death Penalty In Rape-Murder Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged With Matthew Perry's Death How Extreme Weather Is Leading To Rise In Child Marriages In Pakistan Doctors Hold Nationwide Protest Condemning Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder Case: Updates Meta Just Shut A Vital Tool. It's Bad News For Fight Against Misinformation Harris' Or Harris's? Ahead Of US Polls, An Apostrophe Battle Brews Online Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.