In a scathing rebuke aimed at the increased toll fees in Thane and Mumbai, Raj Thackeray, President of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), questioned Chief Minister Eknath Shinde about the withdrawal of his court petition against toll collection in these cities. Thackeray raised concerns about the recent toll fee hike at five toll plazas in Mumbai, including Vashi, Mulund (LBS Road), Mulund (Eastern Express Highway), Dahisar, and Airoli Creek Bridge, which came into effect on October 1, extending until 2026. Notably, the toll fee had been last increased in 2020 for a three-year period.
During a press conference, Thackeray queried, “I have a question for Eknath Shinde. He had himself filed a petition against the toll fee hike, but he has withdrawn it. Why did he withdraw the petition? Who influenced this decision?”
While targeting the BJP-Sena ruling alliance in the state, Thackeray stated, “The MNS has conducted numerous protests against tolls over the years, successfully compelling authorities to close down approximately 65-67 toll booths in Maharashtra, both official and unofficial.” He also highlighted that the BJP-Shiv Sena manifesto had promised to make Maharashtra toll-free, a commitment made in 2014 and 2017, which remains unfulfilled. Considering that Shinde hails from Thane, Thackeray urged the Chief Minister to address the issue to avoid public discontent. Thackeray announced his intention to meet with Chief Minister Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis within the next few days to discuss the toll fee hike issue, promising to provide updates on the subsequent course of action. Thackeray held the press conference in Thane after meeting with Avinash Jadhav, the city MNS district president, who had been on an indefinite hunger strike for four days in protest of the toll fee increase. “I called Avinash Jadhav and conveyed that hunger strikes are not our preferred approach. I assured him that I would meet with him tomorrow morning and urged him to end his hunger strike,” Thackeray stated.