The Maharashtra government on Monday announced the complete toll waiver for motor vehicles at all five booths in Mumbai. The Eknath Shinde-led government’s move had come ahead of the upcoming assembly polls in the state and a day before as it stands now that the Election Commission of India is all set to announce the dates on Tuesday afternoon. The toll waiver had come into effect from midnight onwards. However, it instantly sparked an outcry from the opposition.

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Responding to the recent development, addressing the election body, Congress Kerala had posted on X, “Dear @ECISVEEP, The wait is over. Now you can enter the scene and announce Maharashtra Election Schedule”.

Swift response. Much appreciated. https://t.co/DYCf3sBcxk pic.twitter.com/rB9eUmOp5u

— Congress Kerala (@INCKerala) October 15, 2024

Meanwhile, the election commission had announced that the poll body would announce the dates of Assembly polls in Maharashtra and Jharkhand today.

Commenting on it, Congress Kerala sarcastically wrote on X, “Swift response. Much appreciated”.

Netizens too had come forward responding to the post. One of them wrote, “I think the election Commission is watching your tweet. After all decision successfully approved from cabinet meeting, Today #MCC will come in force. Maharashtra early waiting to vote.”

While another added, “@ECISVEEP seems to have got permission from BJP and Maharashtra Government for it”.

Another said, “WoW Vandhe Bharat response”.

Eknath Shinde announcing the new rule on Monday said that all light motor vehicles would be exempt from any toll tax at the five toll booths for entry into Mumbai.

“This move will save commuters’ time, and reduce pollution and traffic. This is a historic decision,” Mr Shinde told reporters.

Maharashtra minister Dadaji Dagadu Bhuse said that light vehicles would enter freely from the tolls at Dahisar, Anand Nagar, Vaishali, Airoli and Mulund, which were commissioned in 2002.

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Meanwhile, the opposition had accused the government of taking the decision when the election was approaching. “You could have stopped the toll earlier but you did not do it,” Anand Dubey, the spokesperson of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), said.

He had also questioned why heavy vehicles would continue to pay tolls when they have paid the charges for several years.