Mumbai: The Devendra Fadnavis cabinet on Thursday gave nod to compensate toll operators to the tune of Rs 142 crore for the losses they suffered during demonetization.
“During the demonetisation move, we had asked toll operators to stop collecting toll as there was shortage of cash with public. We had also committed to reimburse them for their losses, which we are doing it now,” said state Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar. He further said the money will be recovered from the Public Work Department’s (PWD) outlay for the current financial year.
Toll booths — 14 controlled by PWD and 27 by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) — were shut between November 9 and November 30 last year to avoid inconveniencing people who were short of cash after demonetisation. Toll booths at five Mumbai entry points at the Bandra-Worli Sealink and the Mumbai-Pune expressway were also shut.
“As per the contract between the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the private concessionaires or any other toll-collecting agencies, the companies have to be paid compensation in such cases. The compensation can either be monetary or may be paid via the extension of concession duration,” said an official from PWD.
