The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has appointed Nagpur’s Ashmi Road Carrier Private Limited as the new toll collection agency for the Hinduhrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg (HBTMSM) and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, aiming to enhance operations and improve the passenger experience.
The agency, appointed through a proper tendering process, began its three-month contract on October 11 as the MSRDC aims to set new standards following numerous service issues with the previous operator, Roadways Solutions, also based in Nagpur. Roadways Solutions, which handled toll collection since December 2022, faced increasing criticism from MSRDC for neglecting passenger amenities and failing to address employee complaints, including ongoing delays in salary payments. These shortcomings affected service quality and lowered morale among approximately 2,800 employees at various toll plazas, resulting in frequent delays and frustrations for commuters on the expressway.
“We have been receiving lot of complaints from the agency’s staff and other people regarding the conduct of the Roadways Solutions officials. While the staff complained about irregular pay as also discrepancies in depositing money towards their PF and insurance premiums, the people complained about arrogant behavior of the officials. We served show-cause notices to the agency hoping that it will mend ways. However, their behavior didn’t change prompting us to serve them final notice in mid September,” an official from MSRDC said adding that the agency staff was also contemplating to go on strike against the autocratic behavior.