Chief Minister Devandra Fadnavis said the state government would look into the concerns raised by cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar over the problems being faced by the commuters due to toll tax.
“We have taken note of his (Tendulkar’s) letter. I assure the House that we will overcome in a transparent way the legal hurdles to bring an end to toll plazas,” Fadnavis said in the Maharashtra Legislative Council.
Tendulkar, himself a Mumbaikar, said in the letter written in his capacity as a member of Rajya Sabha, “I would sincerely request you to kindly reconsider the model of operations to reduce the physical and mental toll on citizens who travel in and out of Mumbai.”
Fadnavis said the government was committed to clear the legal hurdles in the shutting down the toll collection plazas in the state.
“While we were reviewing the agreements of major toll operators, we were shocked on finding that there was no ‘buy- back’ clause. We have initiated an enquiry into this and will go to the court if necessary,” the Chief Minister added.
The road toll has been an emotive issue in the state, and has sparked off some violent agitations in the recent past.
