Ganesh Festival: Maharashtra Govt Announces Toll Waiver for Vehicles on Konkan Routes

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has exempted vehicles plying on Konkan routes from paying toll or road tax between September 5 and 19 in view of the Ganesh festival, beginning Saturday.

The Public Works Department (PWD) issued a notification on Wednesday to this effect.

The toll waiver will be applicable between September 5 and 19 only for Konkan-bound vehicles travelling on the Mumbai-Bengaluru and Mumbai-Goa national highways, and state highways.

Vehicles must obtain a pass issued by RTO officials and the traffic police department to avail of the road tax payment exemption, as per the notification.

The PWD also issued a standard pass format with its official notification. The pass document is valid for the vehicle's return journey and serves as the qualifying document for toll payment exemption, it stated.

Thousands of people from Mumbai and neighbouring regions travel to their native places in the coastal Konkan region to celebrate the Ganesh Chaturthi festival every year.

Several state-run and private buses are expected to carry Konkan-bound passengers ahead of the festival from Mumbai alone.

Politicians and various organisations also arrange for private buses to facilitate the journey of Ganesh devotees.

The notable surge in vehicular traffic necessitates measures to alleviate congestion, prompting the state government to announce toll waivers to prevent impediments to traffic flow.