Mumbai: Motorists continued facing problems paying toll at toll booths at the city’s five points of entry/exit owing to unavailability of debit card swiping machines. However, the machines were made available at Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL).
Asked whether any solution was in sight, toll operators said that they had come up with a “smart card” offer as temporary relief where motorists could pay for ten trips at one go by using the smart card. A spokeswoman for toll operator Mumbai Entry Points (MEP), which operates the five toll booths, said, “Debit card swiping machines at five entry points are in the process of installation. Meanwhile, we have started the same on BWSL. Also, traffic was comparatively less when compared to traffic snarls on Saturday and Sunday after toll collection started.”
Airoli resident Tiju Johnson said, “I passed both the Mulund and Airoli toll booth in a span of 15 minutes during early office hours. The traffic was more organised when compared to that during the past two days. Also, I witnessed additional manpower at toll booths that could be one of the reason for lesser traffic.”
Another person who travels daily via Dahisar toll booth said, “I had to pay Rs 35 for entering the city. I offered to swipe my debit card however when I gave them a Rs 2,000 note, they were reluctant to begin with but later, tendered change thinking there was no other option left to maintain smooth flow of traffic.”
“To pass Dahisar toll naka, one at least spends 15-20 minutes daily during peak hours and on Monday too, it was the same. So, we can say traffic was normal,” he added.
On Sunday, joint commissioner of police (traffic) Milind Bharambe said that motorists would be exempt from paying toll in case of big traffic snarls however the MEP spokesperson ruled out any such exemption.
