Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde has approved the relocation of the Dahisar Toll Naka, one of the prominent entry point in Mumbai near Mira-Bhayandar and will be shifted 2 kilometres ahead before Diwali, an official statement said on Tuesday.
It said that the toll naka will be shifted near the nursery opposite the Versova bridge, before Diwali. The decision aims to ease traffic congestion and reduce fuel wastage caused by long queues at the current location.
Mid-day had first reported about a proposal to shift Dahisar Toll Naka on August 30.
Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik had in August written to Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, requesting the relocation of the Dahisar Toll Naka further ahead near Western Hotel, around 2 kms away from the current spot, to ease growing traffic congestion in Thane`s Mira-Bhayandar.
Pratap Sarnaik on Tuesday announced the development in the matter following a meeting chaired by Shinde.
In the meeting, approval was given to shift the toll plaza to a less congested area, outside the Mira-Bhayandar city limits.
The meeting was attended by Dahisar MLA Prakash Surve, MSRDC Joint Managing Director Manoj Jindal, NHAI representative Suhas Chitnis, Vasai-Virar Police Commissioner Niket Kaushik, and IRB contractor Virendra Mhaiskar, among other senior officials, the official statement said.
Sarnaik stated that when Eknath Shinde was the Chief Minister, he had cancelled many toll plazas across the state and waived toll charges for small vehicles, which received strong support from the public.
The Dahisar Toll Naka currently causes major traffic jams, affecting around 15 lakh (1.5 million) residents and daily commuters of Mira-Bhayandar and Mumbai. Travel times increase by 30 to 60 minutes, and unnecessary fuel is wasted, leading to higher pollution levels, the statement said.
It said that because the toll naka lies within the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation limits, local leaders and the transport ministry had strongly demanded its relocation to reduce congestion and make travel smoother.
Eknath Shinde has directed the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to send a proposal to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Once approved by the Union Ministry of Road Transport, the relocation process will begin. The shift is expected to be completed in about one to one-and-a-half months.
Sarnaik assured that this move will provide toll-free travel for Mira-Bhayandar residents and reduce pressure on traffic, as part of Shiv Sena’s efforts to support the common public.
