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-   -   Suspicious Toll collected in Lonavla & Mahabaleshwar? (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/street-experiences/43794-suspicious-toll-collected-lonavla-mahabaleshwar.html)

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?

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.

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

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.

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

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! :Shockked:

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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. :Shockked: 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.

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. :Frustrati