[Iyencar]

As the title says, the Maharashtra government in its infinite wisdom is considering modifying the existing toll lanes with double-decker toll lanes at the various toll junctions in Mumbai.
Link 1: https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/repo...mumbai-2669697
Link 2: http://www.pressreader.com/india/hin...mbai/20180930/
They envision that this will reduce bottlenecks that are currently present at all the toll booths. What this really means is we can stop dreaming about ever having a toll-free Mumbai since the cost of building these new roads will be collected from the general public in the form of tolls . For the uninitiated, the toll has only been rising since inception (it used to be Rs.5 a decade or so back and is now Rs.35). Naturally, the cost of building the bridges (in case of Vashi and Airoli) or the other roads would easily have been recovered a long time back but I believe the current toll is now being collected in the name of maintenance. Anyone who has driven over these roads will agree that the roads are nothing to write home about and in fact have always had potholes during monsoons. If anything, fixing these potholes has led to more traffic as lanes are typically closed for repairs.

In case of the Vashi toll plaza, the current toll plaza was built after demolishing the old one since there was a bypass around it. The cost of building the new one was to be recovered by, you guessed it, the toll itself.

Looking at the staggering amounts being collected everyday by these toll plazas, it is obvious that the money being collected is way more than what is needed to build or maintain these roads.

More significantly:

• Where is the lifetime road tax paid at the time of purchasing a vehicle going?
• Recently the government stopped taking toll for a period of 34 days (link). In turn three plazas, Mulund, Airoli, and LBS Marg Mulund were reimbursed Rs. 11 crore by the exchequer. A simple math calculation reveals that the toll collected for a year could be around a whooping Rs. 118 crore. Considering these toll plazas have been around for atleast 10 years, the toll collected is probably around the cost taken to build the Mumbai-Pune expressway (Rs. 1146 crores). Are the roads even comparable?

To summarize, the hapless citizens of Mumbai can expect to be fleeced in the name of toll collection for the rest of their lifetimes. End of rant.

[Rahul Bhalgat]

Originally Posted by Iyencar

Maharashtra government in its infinite wisdom is considering modifying the existing toll lanes with double-decker toll lanes at the various toll junctions in Mumbai.

Considering these toll plazas have been around for atleast 10 years, the toll collected is probably around the cost taken to build the Mumbai-Pune expressway (Rs. 1146 crores). Are the roads even comparable?[/list]To summarize, the hapless citizens of Mumbai can expect to be fleeced in the name of toll collection for the rest of their lifetimes. End of rant.

Thanks for sharing the information.

I am amused by this double decker toll lane concept. Instead, just appoint 4-5 toll collectors (perdons) in every lane, ready with receipts and change. Doubke decker will increase the capacity to twice. But this idea will increase it 4-5 fold. And it will be scalable based on the need. Also no need for additional construction.

For Pune - Mumbai expressway, I was also disappointed that the toll will continue. But at least they are planning for additional lanes, viaducts and tunnels in the ghats. That shall really help.

[blackwasp]

Originally Posted by Iyencar

They envision that this will reduce bottlenecks that are currently present at all the toll booths.

Nothing except total abolishment of toll booth will improve bottlenecks. I cross the vashi toll frequently ~ minimum 3 times a week and this is the fastest cash toll collection I've seen. Most times you don't even need to stop the car. 200, 500, even 2000 notes can be changed for just a 35 bucks toll.

That said, the sheer volume of traffic is just too much. Even if they make 50 lanes each way, the number of cars will just go up. Eg. Many people (including myself) thought rising fuel prices would deter motorists. But no, If our sales thread is anything to go by, more people are buying cars these days.

Instead of this double decker toll system, car owners should be charged a flat tax ~ say 1% of ex-showroom towards toll and there should be no toll booths. We are anyways paying 13-15% Road tax minimum, whats another 1% on this? But no, the govt wants to come up with complex systems that will takes years to implement and the costs keep on escalating, keeping their pockets lined up for a long time.

[vharihar]

Originally Posted by blackwasp

Instead of this double decker toll system, car owners should be charged a flat tax ~ say 1% of ex-showroom towards toll and there should be no toll booths. We are anyways paying 13-15% Road tax minimum, whats another 1% on this?

The problem with bundling all cesses/taxes into one tax, is that the portions rarely reach the respective agencies, that too in a timely manner. If this were not true, why would one need any tax other than an income tax and a road tax?

Regarding toll, they should just make FastTag mandatory in all new vehicles sold. And have a discounted rate for FastTag toll rates. Also have 90% of the lanes only for FastTag after say 6 mths of a severe FastTag awareness campaign. And have a severe penalty if non-FastTag vehicles enter a FastTag lane (as opposed to just waiving them and allowing them on).

[varunsangal]

Originally Posted by blackwasp

We are anyways paying 13-15% Road tax minimum, whats another 1% on this? But no, the govt wants to come up with complex systems that will takes years to implement and the costs keep on escalating, keeping their pockets lined up for a long time.

The 13-15% road tax is actually meant for building roads. Over time it is just quoted as registration charges, whereas all this money is meant to build good roads. Collecting toll in the name of building expressways has slowly been spread to all roads.

This is especially shocking in the case of Mumbai, as the municipality anyways charges an additional 4% BMC tax, so it should be able to finance its own roads. At this point the tolls are more like hafta vasooli (protection money) to enter/exit Mumbai.

[HKap]

What? Why can't they automate the toll? RFID? Most advanced countries have this technology. This should be easy to implement. There will be teething issues and a few freeloaders but things will iron out in a year or two. Get rid of all toll booths.