Fresh notification to extend toll exemption

The Maharashtra government on Monday told the Bombay High Court that it would issue a fresh notification on Tuesday to extend by six months a notification over the closure of 12 toll plazas and exemption for light motor vehicles (LMVs) from paying the levy at 53 toll plazas from June 1.

This was told by Advocate General Anil Singh to a Bench headed by Chief Justice Mohit Shah.

Singh informed the court that the previous notification, which had exempted LMVs from paying toll at 53 toll plazas in the state and shut down 12 toll stations completely from the midnight of May 31, was to expire this month and the new one will be issued on Tuesday.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Sion Panvel Tollways Pvt Ltd challenging the notification exempting cars, auto rickshaws, jeeps, taxis and three-wheeler delivery vans from toll at Sion-Panvel toll plaza.

The hearing was adjourned for four weeks.

Earlier, the state government had informed the HC that it was willing to pay compensation to the contractors of the Sion-Panvel Tollways for exempting light motor vehicles from payment of toll. However, a settlement is yet to be worked out on the issue.