Ganesh Chaturthi 2022: Maharashtra govt waives off toll tax for people travelling to THIS region

Ganesh Chaturthi 2022: It's that time of the year again when the country will be adorned in festivities and ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’ will be heard all along the streets. On this auspicious occasion, lakhs of people will be travelling to the coastal Konkan region for Ganeshotsav. Hence, the Maharashtra government has decided to waive off all road toll taxes from August 27 to September 11. The concession will be applicable on road toll booths on the Mumbai-Bengaluru, the Mumbai-Goa highways, and other state highways ahead of the 10-day festival starting from August 31. The decision came after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde chaired a meeting recently and directed the authorities concerned to provide the toll-tax exemption and other comforts during the festival.

For availing of the discount, the vehicles would have to sport a sticker with 'Ganeshotsav 2022, Konkan Darshan,' with the full details of the vehicle and its owner/s on it, as required by the Transport Department.

Every year, during Ganeshotsav, several lakhs of people from Mumbai, Pune, and other major cities troop down to the coastal Konkan districts like Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg to celebrate the state`s biggest public festival.

Also read: 2022 Mahindra Scorpio-N in making: Anand Mahindra shares glimpse on Twitter, how it's made

They travel in private cars, SUVs, vans, mini-buses, and private or State Transport buses which connect the remotest hilly or coastal villages dotting the Konkan districts, and multiple road toll taxes both ways (return journey) have always remained a major concern.

Mumbai taxi driver Sushil Uke, who is busy plying on the Konkan route with daily trips, said the concession will reduce the travel costs to the region by a total (two-way trip) up to 20-25 percent, depending on the route taken by the devotees.

"The past two years, Ganeshotsav in Konkan was a very dull affair owing to the coronavirus pandemic. This year since the restrictions have been lifted, the rush is huge with all modes of travel completely booked and some even trying to exploit the situation," said Uke, zooming off to Ratnagiri.

(With inputs from IANS)