Final decision on toll booths before model code: PWD Minister

Maharashtra Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Chandrakant Patil said here today that a final decision about scrapping toll booths in Kolhapur will be taken before the Model Code of Conduct comes into effect in the city.
Incidentally, The Kolhapur municipal election is scheduled for October this year.
"We will come out with a solution on the Kolhapur toll issue before the Model Code of Conduct comes into effect there," Patil, who also happens to be the Guardian Minister of Kolhapur, told reporters here.
During its state assembly election campaign, the BJP had announced that it would make Maharashtra free of toll booths. The state government recently exempted vehicles from paying toll at 63 booths across the state.

The state government had disbursed Rs 800 crore to contractors for 63 toll plazas it recently closed.
Earlier this year, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced setting up of a committee, headed by Public Works Department (Public Undertakings) Minister Eknath Shinde to find an amicable solution to the Kolhapur toll issue.
Recently, Patil had said that the state government is contemplating sharing financial burden arising due to shut down of nine booths in Kolhapur with the local civic body.