HC refuses to stay govt decision to close down 44 toll booths

Mumbai: In a relief to motorists, the Bombay High Court today refused to stay Maharashtra government’s decision to close 44 toll booths. The government’s comes into effect from today. A group of private toll contractors had challenged it, disputing the government’s compensation package of Rs 306 crore. They claimed dues of Rs 3,000 crore. [caption id=“attachment_1596591” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Courtesy: ibn live[/caption] The petitioners had asked for an interim relief by way of a stay on the government’s decision but a division bench headed by Justice Naresh Patil did not grant the stay. There are 166 toll roads in the state. Earlier this month, the state government decided to close down 34 booths on roads under the control of PWD and 10 roads under Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation. These booths are in Nashik, Amaravati, Nagpur, Jalgaon, Dhule, Aurangabad, Pune, Sangli, Solapur, Satara and Raigad districts. The decision came after the state witnessed violent agitations against the toll booths by opposition political parties. The booth contractors contend the government’s decision is arbitrary and discriminatory and they are yet to recover the money invested in road construction. PTI