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Toll records at Mumbai-Pune expressway under reported: RTI application

In July 2015, for a few days, that is from July 18 to 24, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) had done a videography count of Mumbai-Pune expressway at Khalapur, Talegaon, Kusgaon and Shedung toll points," said Sanjay Shirodkar

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After having checked records of toll collection on Mumbai-Pune expressway, two Pune-based toll activists Sanjay Shirodkar and Vivek Velankar have come to the conclusion that toll collection is being under reported up to 50 per cent. The toll collection agency – IRB Infrastructure Developers Ltd – believes the variation is bound to happen due to different counting methodology adopted by the authorities.

"In July 2015, for a few days, that is from July 18 to 24, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) had done a videography count of Mumbai-Pune expressway at Khalapur, Talegaon, Kusgaon and Shedung toll points," said Sanjay Shirodkar, who got the information under the Right to Information (RTI) application.

The claim made by Velankar and Shirodkar of Sajag Nagrik Manch (an NGO) is on the basis of the traffic count undertaken vis-a-vis toll collection figures shared by IRB with MSRDC. Average daily traffic (ADT) has been calculated to come to the conclusion that there is under reporting by 50 per cent by the toll collection agency. For example, at Talegaon toll point, the ADT by MSRDC is 31,135 versus 18,130 vehicles as per the reports of IRB.

"An enquiry should be done on this glaring difference," demanded Velankar.

Clarifying on the subject, chairman and managing director of IRB, Virendra Mhaiskar said, "We have not seen the videography report of the MSRDC. If any irregularity would have been found, as per July's count, the MSRDC would have definitely contacted us."

According to Mhaiskar, the video count was done to count the total number of vehicles and not a revenue survey. On the expressway, a motorist pay at one toll point and show the ticket or receipt at the exiting toll point. "Therefore, there difference of 50 per cent is bound to be there because of the difference in methodology. We give monthly report of count to MSRDC and quarterly report to Sensex as we are a listed organisation. Real time reporting is needed to keep a tab on revenue collections," added Mhaiskar.

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