The AIMTC has urged the govt to completely exempt heavy commercial vehicles from toll at Mumbai’s entry points. (File Photo)
MUMBAI: The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) has sought total exemption from toll charges for heavy commercial vehicles at Mumbai’s entry points, opposing the proposed hike in toll rates from October 1. Singh said smaller vehicles were granted toll exemption in 2024, ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections, and the transport sector had then sought similar relief for heavy commercial vehicles.
AIMTC advisor and former president Bal Malkit Singh said the increase would add to the financial burden on transporters already facing rising operational costs. He said the additional cost would eventually be passed on to consumers through higher freight charges, affecting the prices of essential commodities.
“We had strongly appealed to the government to extend similar relief to heavy commercial vehicles, particularly since the cost of road construction had been recovered by the contractors long ago,” Singh said. He said any further increase in toll charges would directly raise transportation costs and place an additional burden on consumers. Singh said such an exemption would provide relief to transporters and prevent the additional financial burden from cascading to the common man.
The AIMTC has urged the Maharashtra government to completely exempt heavy commercial vehicles from toll at Mumbai’s entry points, on the lines of the exemption already extended to smaller vehicles.