Defunct octroi nakas could be used to decongest entry-exit points to the city

The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRDC) has approached the state government for the land which was previously being utilised by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for octroi nakas. Following the roll-out of the goods and services tax (GST) regime last year, the nakas have been defunct.

The MSRDC now plans to utilise the space of the octroi nakas to expand the toll plazas currently in use. This will help decongest traffic and reduce the waiting period at these toll junctions.

The plan of acquiring the defunct octroi posts has been necessitated at Vashi to accommodate the traffic expected from the new bridge planned by the MSRDC on Vashi creek. Though the bridge is expected to be completed in three years, the MSRDC will begin the expansion of the toll posts at Vashi, Mulund, and Dahisar at the earliest.

“The land transfer will be for a limited period until the concession period of the tolls ends in 2036,” said Radheshyam Mopalwar, vice chairman and managing director, MSRDC.

“We have been receiving complaints about the long queues at the toll posts. Addition of a few more posts will help reduce the congestion,” said an official from the Public Works Department.

“At Vashi, the expansion will help prevent bottlenecks at the toll plaza after the addition of six lanes once the new bridge is open,” he added.

The bridge will be constructed on the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) model and is being funded by MSRDC and City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco).