Vigilant squad to implement 'yellow line' rule at toll booths

The Maharashtra government will appoint a vigilant squad to ensure the implementation of the 'yellow line' rule at toll booths, state Public Works Department minister Eknath Shinde said today.

A yellow line is drawn by authorities at a short distance from the toll posts.

In 2016, Shinde had announced a rule that vehicles that wait in a queue beyond the yellow line during traffic jams would be exempted from paying toll.

Bhai Girkar (of the BJP) said today in the state Legislative Council that despite the 'yellow line' rule, no government officials are present at toll booths to implement it.

Responding to the issue, Shinde said five officers of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police of the traffic division will be deployed at each toll booth to ensure the implementation of the rule.

"Besides, the government will take all possible steps to ease the traffic congestion at toll booths," he said.

Jayant Patil (of the Peasants and Workers Party) then demanded that the government deploy only the officials trained by the skill development department, at the toll booths.

There should also be a 50 per cent reservation for women in the vigilance squad, he said.

However, the minister could not reply to it as the Question Hour was over by then.