Thane: Bhiwandi BJP MP and Union Minister Kapil Patil threatened Tuesday to torch toll booth after he passed through a particular stretch in Thane district. He described the condition of the road very poor. Kapil Patil warned that he will torch the toll booth if the Maharashtra government resumed collecting road tax without repairing the ‘pothole-riddled’ section.
Patil was speaking at a function in Bhiwandi when he issued the warning. A felicitation programme for him had been organised after his elevation to the rank of a Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj. Patil said internal roads in the township, as well as highways passing by, are in a pathetic condition. He identified the roads going towards Mumbai, Nashik, Thane, Chinchoti and Kalyan as in very poor condition.
Patil said he had learnt from state PWD officials that toll collection on the ‘pothole-filled’ Bhiwandi-Wada road was to resume soon. “If the toll naka is started without repairing the road, I will first set it on fire,” the Bhiwandi MP threatened.
Patil informed that Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari had given in-principle approval to convert the Bhiwandi-Wada road into a highway. However, the plan got stuck as the toll collection company for the stretch approached court. It sought a sum of Rs 500 crore from the state government.
To tide over this problem, the state PWD was planning to start toll collection again, Patil claimed. he added that if the stretch was handed over to the Central government, he would ensure it is converted into a cement concrete one that would last for over 35 years.
Patil said he would meet Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, state PWD Minister Ashok Chavan and Thane Guardian Minister Eknath Shinde to convince them of the need to hand over the Bhiwandi-Wada road to the Union government.