This story is from June 10, 2020

Voices against collection of toll on Pune-Satara highway

Citizens of Pune and Satara, who have been demanding the condition of the Pune Satara highway be improved, will approach the collectors of both districts seeking suspension of toll on the stretch.
Voices against collection of toll on Pune-Satara highway
Representative image
PUNE: Citizens of Pune and Satara, who have been demanding the condition of the Pune Satara highway be improved, will approach the collectors of both districts seeking suspension of toll on the stretch.
While the citizens and elected representatives from these areas have been demanding toll suspension for several months, the notice of intent served by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to terminate concession agreement with Reliance Infrastructure on May 21, has provided impetus to the demand.
“We are demanding complete toll suspension on this stretch till work is complete. We started demanding for road repairs and completion of the highway last year when the road’s condition had deteriorated during the monsoon. An entire year has been wasted in giving extensions. The contractor has to be changed so that work can be completed,” Virat Ghadge, a resident of Satara, said.
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Jay Shedge, a regular commuter, said citizens did not have faith in the company to complete the project. “The notice provided 15 days for response, but company officials are citing Covid-19 as a reason for delay. Soon, rain will start and that will become another reason,” he said.
Pavanjit Mane, a Pune resident who is from Satara, said, “We are collecting all information and will draft letters to the Pune and Satara collectors. A 15-day period was provided to Reliance Infrastructure to make a representation on why the agreement must not be terminated.”
The Bhor MLA, Sangram Thopte, who has been seeking completion and improvement of the highway, said, “While the notice has been issued in pursuance of clause 37.1.2 of the concession agreement and a 15-day period was granted for response, the said period is already over and toll collection should have been suspended automatically. I am making a representation to the Pune collector to stop the collection of toll.”

Construction of bridges at Nasrapur, Varve and other locations remains incomplete, despite deadlines given by Pune and Satara collectors in December last year. Sources working on the project said Covid-19 is being given as a reason for incomplete work. “Deadline for completion of work was March 31 and lockdown was announced on March 22. Substantial work should have been completed till the lockdown started, but that was not the case. Over 90% of the work is still pending,” the source said.
The source added that even after 15 days of serving the notice, NHAI had failed to take further action. Suspension of toll collection, which is a decision of the NHAI, has not been taken yet either.
Satara collector Shekhar Singh told TOI that a decision on toll suspension could be taken by the NHAI.
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