As Raj warns toll contractors, CM promises new policy

A day after the MNS's agitation on toll levy issue, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today announced that a new toll collection policy will be ready soon, but that didn't stop Raj Thackeray from warning toll contractors of dire consequences if they collected the toll forcibly in the meanwhile.

Invited to discuss the issue by the Chief Minister, the MNS president had a two-hour-long meeting with Chavan today.

Afterwards, the Chief Minister said, "We have incorporated some points raised by Raj Thackeray. We started working on the new toll policy last year, which awaits the cabinet's nod."

Responding to Chavan's appeal, Raj announced that the MNS's February 21 protest rally from Girgaum Chowpatty to the Mantralaya (state secretariat) had been put off.

"I appeal to people not to pay the toll till the state government implements changes in the policy," Raj told reporters after the meeting.

"If you don't want to pay the toll and if anyone at the toll plaza forcibly makes you pay, we will wreak havoc at the house of the concerned toll contractor," the MNS president said. "Then the government should not blame us."

"I met Chavan today following his phone call yesterday. He has assured me that the new toll policy will be brought in before the code of conduct for elections comes into force," Raj said.

"The Chief Minister conceded mistakes in the state's build, operate, transfer (BOT) policy and said the government will reconsider it," he said.

"Chavan agreed that the condition of roads in the state was bad. He also assured us that the government will wind up all illegal toll booths," he added.