Electronic validators by March for toll collection

MEPL will collect toll charges for a concession period of 17 years. “We have started the toll collection after the upfront payment of Rs 2,100 crore to MSRDC. We will now be introducing automation in toll collection at the five entry points,and the deadline we have set for ourselves to achieve that is March,” said Jayant Mhaiskar,director of MEPL. He said the identity cards would be issued and they will function on radio frequency.

Apart from the automation,the agency also has to augment the capacity at the entry points as per the contract. According to Mhaiskar,the agency will also work in the refurbishment of the toll booths. “We have started the process of capacity augmentation at Vashi-Mulund Eastern Express Highway and LBS,Mulund West,where toll plazas will be made with more lanes,” Mhaiskar said. The toll plazas are expected to be along the lines of the toll plazas on the Bandra Worli Sea Link.

The contract had its share of controversy leading to a delay by a year in appointing an agency to man the entry points. As many as 19 bidders had expressed interest for the toll securitisation project. Reliance Infrastructure,which was disqualified with its consortium partner Shakti Kumar Sancheti,had filed a petition in the Bombay high court (HC) in August 2009 challenging the awarding of contract. It was later rejected in by the Supreme Court. There was also a PIL filed by the People’s Action Committee,challenging the decision to separate the Sion-Panvel Highway from securitisation.

Meanwhile,the agency which is incharge of toll collection at the BWSL said there is a rise in the number of cars per day after the opening of the diamond bourse at Bandra Kurla Complex. “There is rise in the figures,but the numbers are still below what had been expected. It is a tough task for us and it will be challenging for the next toll collector also,” he said.

Reliance Infrastructure Ltd that is constructing the BWSL’s extension to Haji Ali will be buying out the operations and maintenance rights for BWSL by December-end.