End of octroi check posts: Gorhe meets ACS over security

Amid fears expressed by Shiv Sena that abolition of octroi after the GST rollout may pose a threat to Mumbai's security as vehicles entering the city will not face checks, party MLC Neelam Gorhe today met Maharashtra Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sudhir Shrivastav to take stock of the situation.
During the meeting, Shrivastav allayed the Sena legislator's apprehensions over the security and informed her about the steps being undertaken by the government.
"Already, there are police check posts in place of the erstwhile octroi check posts. After the octroi abolishment, police personnel have stepped up scrutiny of the vehicles entering the city," Shrivastav told PTI.

He said city Police Commissioner Dattatray Padsalgikar has already written a letter to him, seeking control of the land parcels that were freed after the octroi nakas were rendered obsolete due to the GST.
"The police commissioner is already on the job of putting in place more security. As far as the allotment of land is concerned, they could be put to some other use as well, which we are considering. We will see how we can fit in the CP's request," Shrivastav said.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued here, Gorhe said that among other demands, she sought an impartial probe against those responsible for the "killing" of Byculla prison inmate Manju Shette.

"I have been promised strict action against those responsible," she said.
The Shiv Sena had earlier said that the removal of octroi check posts in Mumbai after the implementation of the GST has left the city "vulnerable".
Sena MP Sanjay Raut had said, "The GST Bill was passed in Parliament with our support. But we are concerned about the safety of Mumbai as when octroi was collected, the vehicles used to be scanned.