With eye on polls, Maha govt revises toll policy, renames Pune university

With an eye on the upcoming assembly elections, the Maharashtra government has taken two major decisions that could be used during election campaigning. While it approved the renaming of Pune University after late social reformer Savitribai Phule, the state government also gave approval to the revised toll policy, which has come as a major relief to the people.

The state government’s decision of renaming of the Pune University after late social reformer Savitribai Phule is being viewed as the Congress-NCP combines attempt to please OBCs, which has a sizeable population in the state and plays a crucial role in the elections. The demand for renaming the university after the social reformer has been made over past few years.

Chhagan Bhujbal, an NCP leader and PWD minister in the state cabinet, had been pushing for the demand for a long time and had recently slammed the chief minister over the delay in taking the decision. “It is a historical step towards the social justice,” said Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.

Also, the state government gave its approval to the revised toll policy, which had been due for a long time. In February, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) had protested across the state against toll collection. Prithviraj Chavan had then promised to bring in a new toll policy.

In the revised toll policy approved on Monday, the state government has decided that it will take up the job of road construction of up to Rs 200 crore and will not give it to private players. It has also exempted state transport buses from toll and given concessions to regular motorists through coupons and seasonal toll passes.

The revised policy also says that toll tax henceforth will be based on union government policy.