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Ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led cabinet has approved a complete exemption of toll charges for light motor vehicles at all five toll booths entering Mumbai. This order will take effect from tonight, October 12.Commuters travelling from and to Mumbai with small vehicles will be exempted from all five toll nakas. The toll plazas that will be toll-free are Dahisar Toll Naka, Mulund Toll Naka, Vashi Toll Naka, Airoli Toll Naka, and Anand Nagar Toll Naka. The initiative aims to ease commuters' financial burden and facilitate smoother travel into the city during this Diwali and upcoming festive season. However, the Atal Setu Bridge has been excluded from this toll exemption.Chief Minister Shinde made the announcement during a cabinet meeting ahead of assembly polls, highlighting the government’s commitment to improving transportation accessibility for residents and visitors alike. CM Eknath Shinde said that this is an historic decision as there used to be traffic jams on toll plazas. He said our Mahayuti government has given relief to light motor vehicles by exemption at toll gates. "At the Mumbai entry point, people from all over Maharashtra come, there used to be traffic jams, people were demanding for exemption and also went to the court, I have come up with a solution, our Mahayuti government has given relief to light motor vehicles by exemption at toll gates," he added. Speaking to the media after the announcement, he said, "Definitely, their time will be saved, pollution will be reduced, traffic will be reduced, fuel will be saved. It is a historic decision and a masterstroke."MNS chief Raj Thackeray has raised the toll-waiver issue many times in the past, which has also led MNS workers to protest at several toll plazas in the city. He has asked the state government to account for vehicles coming and going in Mumbai and demanded the closure of this toll nakas.Also Read | Raj Thackeray on Mumbai Toll Tax Exemption: Govt Must Assure Public That Toll Waiver Is Not an Election Gimmick, Says MNS Chief.This rule applies only to cars and SUVs. The toll rate for Rs 45 which was constructed during Shiv Sena-BJP regime by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) was being levied. Former BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, who protested against the toll charges several times, said, "I welcome this daring decision for construction. The money was recovered long ago.""Modi Sarkar implemented GST & made Mumbai Octroi Naka Free. Now Mahayuti Sarkar making Toll Naka Free Mumbai (Only Heavy Vehicles will have to pay Toll). We welcome the decision," Kirit Somaiya said in a post on X.Maharashtra minister Dadaji Bhuse said, "At the time of entering Mumbai, there were 5 toll plazas including Dahisar Toll, Anand Nagar Toll, Vaishali, Airoli and Mulund. Rs 45 and Rs 75 were charged at these tolls, this was applicable till 2026. About 3.5 lakh vehicles used to come and go. These included about 70 thousand heavy vehicles and 2.80 lakh light vehicles. Today the government has decided to exempt light vehicles from toll after 12 midnight. This will save the time of people who were wasted in queues. The government was discussing this for many months and today this revolutionary decision has been taken."CM Eknath Shinde discarded the claim that decisions were taken ahead of elections in the state and attacked Congress-led MVA for alleged false promises in ruling states. "The decisions taken by our Mahayuti government are not taken keeping elections in mind... Congress made false promises to people in Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh. This is what they do... We are providers. They (opposition) are takers... They have lost their confidence. Their fight is not for the CM, their fight is for LoP," said Shinde while speaking to the media.

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