Mumbai, August 20: In a major relief for people commuting between Thane and Mumbai, the Maharashtra government has exempted small private vehicles from paying toll at Mulund and Airoli toll booths. This comes after complaints by commuters about huge traffic jams due to Mumbra bypass remaining shut for reconstruction. Commuters on small vehicles will not have to pay toll from August 21 to September 23.

Meanwhile, reports say that the repair and renovation work of Mumbra bypass is expected to be completed by September 10, following which the road will be thrown open to public. Mumbra bypass has been shut for traffic since May this year due to repair and renovation work.

Here is what Thane Guardian Minister Eknath Shinde said on Twitter:

Last month, images of cracks on Mumbra bypass had gone viral over the social media, indicating that repair and renovation may take longer. The closure has forced heavy vehicles coming in from Uran JNPT port and going towards Thane, Bhiwandi and Gujarat to take the Airoli route, thereby, increasing traffic for daily commuters between Thane and Mumbai.

The residents of Thane had also filed an online petition on change.org appealing to the government to remove the Mulund Airoli toll. The toll removal may ease some traffic on the road starting tomorrow.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 20, 2018 04:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).