The reason? Each time they cross the fortnight-old Mulund-Airoli bridge, they have to reach for their wallets and fork out a toll which varies on the vehicle they're driving. It's Rs 20 a car, Rs 50 a truck and Rs 100 for a truck-trailer.

``It's too steep,'' shrugs Vashi-based businessman Praveen Shah, leaning out of his car window with two ten rupee notes. ``It shouldn't be more than Rs 10. I use the bridge only occasionally to save time.''

Though the bridge isn't part of the state government's much-touted clutch of 55 flyovers, it is widely seen as a test case for high toll rates. Later this year, the state will begin imposing similar toll charges on motorists entering the city.

But motorists are only grudgingly waking up to the western reality of high road pricingto discourage traffic congestion.

R C Sinha, Managing Director of the MSRDC, which completed the bridge, profers some simple but harsh advice for people who don't want to pay. ``If they think it's unviable, I suggest they avoid the bridge. There can be no more free lunches.''

Though Malad-based entrepreneur Aditya Hulyalkar thinks the toll is exorbitant, he drives down to his unit in Dombivli using the new bridge. ``It's the shortest route. I save upto half an hour each way.''

That's exactly the argument Sinha makes in favour of the toll. ``We're only asking people to pay us half the saving they make using the bridge - half an hour and one and a half litres of petrol.'' In the same breath, he adds wistfully, ``If anybody gives me Rs 160 crore, I'll make the bridge toll-free.''

A fraction of the bridge users could even take up Sinha's offer. The users comprise the well-heeled, mobile-wielding leather briefcase-swinging businessmen and executives, rushing past in chaffeur driven Astras and Marutis. Oneof them deftly executes the seemingly impossible feat of driving and paying the toll without interrupting conversation on his mobile phone.

The bridge, the second one over the Thane creek invites immediate comparision with the Vashi creek bridge that charges an eight rupee return fee valid for endless trips until midnight. At the Airoli bridge you pay Rs 20 each time you use it. This has agitated motorists.

Dombivli-based businessman Vinod Shah who uses the bridge only when it's ekdum urgent, is agitated that there's no concession for a return journey. ``It should be Rs 15 or Rs 20 for a return journey.''

Traffic on the bridge is sparse. BEST undertaking buses have yet to be rerouted over the bridge and not many trucks cross over since the offices for octroi agents haven't been set up.

Though it was intended to shorten the journey from Navi Mumbai into the suburbs, the business the toll stations here do are not a patch on their counterparts at the Vashi bridge. In an attempt to pep up traffic, thecompany which handles toll for both bridges have introduced a smart card worth Rs 1,600, which offers a Rs 400 discount for 100 journeys on the bridge. This has so far found only a handful of takers.

Two-wheeler riders and autos are the only ones cheering as they race past the toll stations without paying. Also exempted are police patrol vehicles, fire tenders, ambulances, defence vehicles and government vehicles with red and amber lights.