Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde intervenes closure of Somatane Phata Toll
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde intervenes closure of Somatane Phata Toll
The office of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, has instructed the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to review the demands and complaints raised by local residents and activists regarding the Somatane Phata toll plaza on the old Pune-Mumbai highway.
Local residents and activists have been advocating for the closure of the toll plaza, citing various concerns. The MSRDC has been tasked with thoroughly examining these issues to determine the best course of action. This move reflects the government’s responsiveness to public grievances and the ongoing discussions about the toll system’s impact on local communities.
Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde intervened the matter, when former corporator of Talegaon Dabhade and RTI activist Arun Mane submitted letters to both the Deputy CM’s office and the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) stating violations and irregularities at the Somatane Phata toll plaza. Mane said, “The plaza operates in clear breach of central govt guidelines. We have documentary evidence of regulatory non-compliance”.
One of the key violations he pointed out was the plaza’s proximity to another toll point. According to the 2008 notification from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, a minimum distance of 60 km should be maintained between toll plazas. However, Mane pointed out that Somatane Phata toll plaza is located just 32 km from the Varsoli toll plaza and only 2 km from the Talegaon Dabhade Municipal Council limits which he argued is a clear violation of this guideline. Furthermore, the complaints also refer to a declaration by a former tehsildar, who reportedly stated that the toll plaza is unauthorized. These combined issues have intensified calls for a review of the toll’s legitimacy and the need for potential closure or relocation.
Local residents have also raised concerns about traffic congestion, long delays for vehicles, including ambulances, with some facing wait times of several hours. This has led to growing frustration among residents, especially in emergencies where time is critical. Furthermore, residents have highlighted the absence of mandatory service roads for nearby villages. This has compounded the problem, exacerbating the traffic issues and making daily commutes challenging for those living in the vicinity.
A local resident said, “People get stuck at the toll plaza unnecessarily. We have been demanding its closure for the last two to three years, and have held several agitations but no concrete solution has emerged”.
An official from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), who preferred to remain anonymous, confirmed that directives from Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will be followed. However, the current agreement with the contractor for the toll plaza runs until 2030.
The issue has also been raised earlier in the State assembly by Maval MLA Sunil Shelke.
