Congress MLA Nitesh Rane has written a letter to the Maharashtra PWD Ministry seeking road toll exemption for those visiting Konkan region via Mumbai-Pune expressway during the upcoming Ganesh festival.
He said as a result of the Mahad bridge collapse incident, people would be forced to take the expressway route to reach Konkan, where Ganesh festival is celebrated in a big way.
"The recent bridge collapse incident at Mahad and the inefficiency of the state government to properly maintain and improve the Mumbai-Goa highway has led people to use the Mumbai-Pune Expressway to reach Konkan.
"During the (recently-concluded) Assembly session, the government had told the Legislature that the condition of Mumbai-Goa highway, currently riddled with huge potholes, will be improved before the Ganeshotsav season. But, the government failed to live up to its promise," Rane said.
"Why should the people pay toll at the Mumbai-Pune Expressway because of the inefficiency of the government? The Mahad tragedy on the Mumbai-Goa highway has only worsened the condition of travellers, who will now be forced to use the Mumbai-Pune expressway in large numbers," he said.
The Congress leader added that if the government failed to act on the demands, his party workers will start an agitation to seek justice for those living in Konkan region.
A large number of people, mainly those hailing from Konkan and employed in Mumbai, head to their villages in the coastal districts to celebrate the ten-day festival.
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