Dahisar toll plaza might shift closer to Versova bridge before Diwali; to reduce traffic, help save fuel
At present, the Dahisar Toll Plaza is at the entry point of the Mira-Bhayandar area. It causes a lot of traffic for people traveling on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway and others from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, especially those from Mira-Bhayandar.
Mumbai: The Maharashtra government is planning to shift the Dahisar Toll Plaza about two kilometers away, near a nursery close to the Versova Bridge, just before Diwali, according to reports. The whole process of moving it may take around one to one and a half months.
At present, the Dahisar Toll Plaza is at the entry point of the Mira-Bhayandar area. It causes a lot of traffic for people traveling on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway and others from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, especially those from Mira-Bhayandar.
Toll plaza led to more traffic, fuel wastage
Many people have raised concerns about the heavy traffic and the extra fuel being used because of the current location of the toll plaza. These problems are affecting the daily lives of regular travelers and local residents.
A review meeting was held to discuss this issue. The meeting was led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who also heads the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).
Others who joined the meeting included Dahisar MLA Prakash Surve, Manoj Jindal (Deputy Managing Director of MSRDC), Suhas Chitnis (official from the National Highway Authority), Vasai-Virar Police Commissioner Niket Kaushik, IRB contractor Virendra Mhaiskar, and other top officials.
Proposal will be sent to NHAI
Now, the MSRDC will send this proposal to the National Highway Authority for final approval. Once the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways clears it, the toll plaza shifting work will begin, as per a news report. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik told Times Now that the current location of the Dahisar Toll Plaza creates serious traffic jams and leads to more air pollution in the area.
The problem impacts over 15 lakh people living in Dahisar, Mira-Bhayandar, Thane, and also vehicle owners and passengers traveling to Mumbai. They often face 30 to 60-minute delays and end up using more fuel.
Sarnaik also said that under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s leadership, many toll booths in the state were already removed earlier, and smaller vehicles were not being charged tolls. The same positive steps are now being taken for the Dahisar Toll Plaza, which comes under the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation area.