The agitation against toll collection in Kolhapur took a violent turn on Sunday when Shiv Sena activists vandalised four toll booths and set two toll plazas on fire. The Kolhapur Anti-Toll Collection Committee (KATC), comprising members from all political parties, has been on strike since Monday demanding the revocation of toll collection. However, Shiv Sena activists led the protest on Sunday, reports said.
On Saturday, the State government promised the committee that a “clear resolution” would be found. Ideal Road Builders (IRB), the contractor, would be informed of the decision, and an alternative would be found, the Ministers said. Violence erupted after toll booths were found functioning despite the ministers’ assurance.
IRB officials, however, said they had not received any written communication from the State government. Since October 17, 2013 IRB has been collecting toll on nine Kolhapur roads it built on a build-operate-transfer model.
