Somatane Phata Toll Plaza Faces Allegations of Illegal Operations and Public Outrage

Somatane Phata Toll Plaza Faces Allegations of Illegal Operations and Public Outrage
The toll plaza at Somatane Phata on the old Pune-Mumbai highway is under fire for allegations of unauthorized toll collection and inadequate infrastructure. Arun Mane, a former corporator from Talegaon Dabhade and a prominent RTI activist, has accused the toll plaza of collecting fees under the guise of maintenance and repairs. He has urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to take immediate action and shut down the plaza. Responding to these concerns, the chief minister’s office has directed the public works department (roads) to investigate and take necessary actions.
Concerns Over Legitimacy and Operations
Mane has raised several concerns regarding the toll plaza’s legitimacy, pointing out that toll receipts issued at Somatane Phata are labeled as Dehu Road, adding to the suspicion of unauthorized operations. The toll plaza has also become infamous for severe traffic congestion, often causing vehicles to remain stuck for hours. This has resulted in significant delays, including for emergency services such as ambulances, exacerbating the negative impact on the public.
According to national regulations, a minimum distance of 60 kilometers is required between two toll plazas. However, the distance between the toll plazas at Varsoli and Somatane Phata is only 32 kilometers, which Mane argues is a violation of the rules and unfair to commuters. Additionally, regulations mandate the presence of service roads near toll plazas for local villagers, but there are no service roads at Somatane Phata. Mane further alleged that tolls are being collected under the misleading pretense of maintenance.
Declared Unauthorized by Authorities
A report by the local tehsildar’s office has deemed the toll plaza unauthorized. According to a notification from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways dated December 5, 2008, toll plazas must be located at least 60 kilometers apart and no closer than 10 kilometers from a municipal boundary. The Somatane Phata toll plaza, however, is only 2 kilometers away from the limits of the Talegaon Dabhade Municipal Council. Former Tehsildar Madhusudan Burge had officially notified the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) about the plaza’s unauthorized status, but the toll collection has continued unabated.
Past Protests and Political Pressure
The issue is not new. In the legislative assembly, Maval MLA Sunil Shelke had previously demanded the closure of the toll plaza. During the 2022-23 period, the late Kishor Aware, founder of the Janseva Vikas Samiti, went on a hunger strike protesting against the plaza. At that time, the public works minister had promised to shut down the toll plaza, but no concrete actions were taken.
Arun Mane, addressing the current situation, stated, “The Somatane Phata toll plaza does not have registration with the local gram panchayat. The Maval tehsildar officially declared the toll plaza unauthorized in a letter to the government. Despite this, the toll plaza continues to collect fees openly.”
Hope for Resolution
With the chief minister’s office now taking the allegations seriously, there is renewed hope for action. The public works department has been instructed to investigate and address the matter, signaling potential relief for commuters and locals affected by the toll plaza’s operations. Mane remains adamant that immediate steps are necessary to shut down the unauthorized toll plaza and ensure compliance with regulations.
This ongoing controversy highlights the need for accountability and transparency in toll operations, as well as the importance of prioritizing public convenience and safety over profit-driven motives.