Suspicious Toll collected in Lonavla & Mahabaleshwar?

amit · 9th August 2008, 11:58

I was in Lonavala yesterday going to Tiger point. Near Bushi Dam, there was a police outpost and they were charging toll from every vehicle. We were two people in a SX4 and we were charged Rs.30 (Rs.5 per person in car and Rs.20 for the car)! We were not given any reciept for the money paid and the people were in typical police raincoats (bright yellow ones) with the police lathi's that they carry.

No one knows who authorised the implementation of this toll and for what. There is no proper toll naka either. There is just a police chowky kind of thing with the words POLICE written across it and the equipment they use to make nakabandi's to guide cars going towards bushi damn, tiger point and sahara city into the toll plaza. About 6 people were controlling the 'toll plaza'. I strongly suspect that the cops got together and decided to make some money. Do members here know anything about this toll? With the monsoons in full force, the number of vehicles going to Lonavla is HUGE. Imagine the money being made there.

Most important is, if this is illegal, then how do we take action?

Zappo · 9th August 2008, 12:13

Write to the DG of Police, Maharashtra informing about the case in its entirety. Draw the attention to the fact that a road toll is only collected when a new investment in infrastructure is made, mostly in Private/Public partnership model. In this case however this toll collection 'camp by the roadside' has come up out of the blue for no apparent reason and is being manned by policemen who do not issue any receipts for the money being collected.

I think this much will do the trick immediately if that collection drive is illegal. If you want some more effect you can even mark a copy of your mail to the editor of The Times Of India, both Mumbai and Pune editions.

Technocrat · 9th August 2008, 12:21

I believe its legal As I have always insisted on getting a receipt & always got one at that spot. Also whenever i have been there all of the guys look unofficial people but since i get the receipt I didnt think further. But yes you need to insist else they wont give you the receipt

GTO · 9th August 2008, 16:21

Amit,

The toll for that section came up only after the new 2-way bridge was constructed. I don't know whether the toll charges are authorised or not.

nitrous · 9th August 2008, 16:47

best offensive move for this particular illegal collection would be going to the press.

amit · 9th August 2008, 17:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

Amit,

The toll for that section came up only after the new 2-way bridge was constructed. I don't know whether the toll charges are authorised or not.

But GTO, that 2 way bridge is now quite old. It's probably 3 years old isnt it? Why start the toll now? I drove upto Tiger Point in April this year and there was no toll.

Besides, the method of charging toll is unique. It's a combination of number of people in the car PLUS the car itself! So a Sumo with 7 people will pay Rs.55 (Rs. 5 per person X 7 persons PLUS Rs.20 for the car.) And there are buses that go up there too!

Sam Kapasi · 9th August 2008, 17:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by amit

We were not given any reciept for the money paid

Did you insist on a receipt? You should have. You are entitled to get a receipt for every Rupee you pay out legally and it is your right as a citizen.

You are also well within your right to refuse to pay any money unless you receive an official receipt. Nobody, I repeat, NOBODY can take an official charge from you without issuing a receipt. Regardless of his designation or uniform.

diwa · 9th August 2008, 17:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by amit

We were two people in a SX4 and we were charged Rs.30 (Rs.5 per person in car and Rs.20 for the car)! We were not given any reciept for the money paid and the people were in typical police raincoats (bright yellow ones) with the police lathi's that they carry.

I have my own doubts here. I can understand Rs 20/- Toll for a car but Rs 5/- per person? This is fishy and that too no receipt. I have never heard about toll charged per head unless its an entry into a amusement park or any exhibition.

F50 · 9th August 2008, 18:17

Amit, this toll is there since a long time. I dont remember the date but it was a Team-Bhp Drive and I was in whose car was it V-16's or Scoobys or Viper, but they stopped us and asked for 20 bucks - Rs.5 per passenger. But someone said I stay over here and they let us go without taking any money.
Even I was curious to know (obviously at that time) about this new toll. But I didnt find any of them next time around when I had been to Lonavala, okay it was 3 am but still a toll is suppose to be 24 hrs right?

arpandiv · 9th August 2008, 19:44

this toll is there since quite some time,i have got receipts for it,but yes its not there during nights. I think its some sort of "Tourist tax" AFAIK mahableshwar also has this.

nishantgandhi · 9th August 2008, 20:34

No, this toll is locally called "Pollution tax". They charge Rs 5 per person+ some fixed amount for the car. They give receipt at times, but that depends entirely on his mood or the traffic.

danlalan · 9th August 2008, 21:17

Its an illegal toll naka for sure. Locals and the police have got together and made this so called toll naka.
You can refuse to pay it by just driving along if you show a press card or even a blank piece of paper through your windscreen.
Pdev does that at almost all toll nakas EXCEPT the expressway. If not the press card then fuel bills, Cd case covers, folded envelopes even tissue paper.

have videos for this too.

Cyrus43 · 9th August 2008, 22:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by danlalan

Its an illegal toll naka for sure. Locals and the police have got together and made this so called toll naka.
You can refuse to pay it by just driving along if you show a press card or even a blank piece of paper through your windscreen.
Pdev does that at almost all toll nakas EXCEPT the expressway. If not the press card then fuel bills, Cd case covers, folded envelopes even tissue paper.

have videos for this too.

And that my friend is taking blatant advantage of your press card. You will get in trouble for this one day dingdong!!

These are the Pictures of the Toll Station. They took almost 1000 bucks for the bus if i remember correctly.

F50 · 10th August 2008, 01:19

What is Lonavala Nagar Parishad gonna do by charging Rs.5/- per person?

Cyrus43 · 10th August 2008, 01:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by F50

What is Lonavala Nagar Parishad gonna do by charging Rs.5/- per person?

Have some more Desi Daru and some girls i am sure. This is absolutely ridiculous. The Press Should be shown this without fail.

9th August 2008, 11:58	#1
amit Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 3,712 Thanked: 451 Times	Suspicious Toll collected in Lonavla & Mahabaleshwar? I was in Lonavala yesterday going to Tiger point. Near Bushi Dam, there was a police outpost and they were charging toll from every vehicle. We were two people in a SX4 and we were charged Rs.30 (Rs.5 per person in car and Rs.20 for the car)! We were not given any reciept for the money paid and the people were in typical police raincoats (bright yellow ones) with the police lathi's that they carry. No one knows who authorised the implementation of this toll and for what. There is no proper toll naka either. There is just a police chowky kind of thing with the words POLICE written across it and the equipment they use to make nakabandi's to guide cars going towards bushi damn, tiger point and sahara city into the toll plaza. About 6 people were controlling the 'toll plaza'. I strongly suspect that the cops got together and decided to make some money. Do members here know anything about this toll? With the monsoons in full force, the number of vehicles going to Lonavla is HUGE. Imagine the money being made there. Most important is, if this is illegal, then how do we take action? Last edited by amit : 9th August 2008 at 12:04.
	(1) Thanks

9th August 2008, 12:13	#2
Zappo Team-BHP Support Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 5,908 Thanked: 2,746 Times	Write to the DG of Police, Maharashtra informing about the case in its entirety. Draw the attention to the fact that a road toll is only collected when a new investment in infrastructure is made, mostly in Private/Public partnership model. In this case however this toll collection 'camp by the roadside' has come up out of the blue for no apparent reason and is being manned by policemen who do not issue any receipts for the money being collected. I think this much will do the trick immediately if that collection drive is illegal. If you want some more effect you can even mark a copy of your mail to the editor of The Times Of India, both Mumbai and Pune editions.
	() Thanks

9th August 2008, 12:21	#3
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,765 Thanked: 2,705 Times	I believe its legal As I have always insisted on getting a receipt & always got one at that spot. Also whenever i have been there all of the guys look unofficial people but since i get the receipt I didnt think further. But yes you need to insist else they wont give you the receipt
	(1) Thanks

9th August 2008, 16:21	#4
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 71,900 Thanked: 323,290 Times View My Garage	Amit, The toll for that section came up only after the new 2-way bridge was constructed. I don't know whether the toll charges are authorised or not.
	() Thanks

9th August 2008, 16:47	#5
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,964 Thanked: 333 Times View My Garage	best offensive move for this particular illegal collection would be going to the press.
	() Thanks

9th August 2008, 18:17	#9
F50 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai/USA Posts: 1,704 Thanked: 103 Times	Amit, this toll is there since a long time. I dont remember the date but it was a Team-Bhp Drive and I was in whose car was it V-16's or Scoobys or Viper, but they stopped us and asked for 20 bucks - Rs.5 per passenger. But someone said I stay over here and they let us go without taking any money. Even I was curious to know (obviously at that time) about this new toll. But I didnt find any of them next time around when I had been to Lonavala, okay it was 3 am but still a toll is suppose to be 24 hrs right?
	() Thanks

9th August 2008, 19:44	#10
arpandiv BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 444 Thanked: 62 Times View My Garage	this toll is there since quite some time,i have got receipts for it,but yes its not there during nights. I think its some sort of "Tourist tax" AFAIK mahableshwar also has this.
	() Thanks

9th August 2008, 20:34	#11
nishantgandhi Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,223 Thanked: 156 Times	No, this toll is locally called "Pollution tax". They charge Rs 5 per person+ some fixed amount for the car. They give receipt at times, but that depends entirely on his mood or the traffic.
	() Thanks

9th August 2008, 21:17	#12
danlalan Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: mumbai,JUHU Posts: 1,639 Thanked: 284 Times View My Garage	Its an illegal toll naka for sure. Locals and the police have got together and made this so called toll naka. You can refuse to pay it by just driving along if you show a press card or even a blank piece of paper through your windscreen. Pdev does that at almost all toll nakas EXCEPT the expressway. If not the press card then fuel bills, Cd case covers, folded envelopes even tissue paper. have videos for this too.
	() Thanks

10th August 2008, 01:19	#14
F50 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai/USA Posts: 1,704 Thanked: 103 Times	What is Lonavala Nagar Parishad gonna do by charging Rs.5/- per person?
	() Thanks