Maharashtra State Public Works Department Minister Eknath Shinde has said that the government would waive toll fees between 10 and 13 September in order to ease traffic during Ganeshotsav, Hindustan Times has reported.

The toll waiver will be applicable to those travelling from Mumbai, Thane towards Konkan via Pune expressway and the Mumbai-Goa highway. The toll waiver will also be applicable for Maharashtra state road transport buses.

“Motorists who are travelling to their hometowns for the festival can get a sticker that says, ‘Ganeshotsav-2018 Konkan Darshan’ from the traffic police and regional transport RTOs,” Shinde said.

The Minister also added that commuters returning from Konkan to Mumbai and Thane on 23 September would also not be required to pay toll.

The toll has been exempted to reduce traffic jams.

The Maharashtra minister has also ordered his department to fill up all potholes and complete repair work on the highway before the commencement of the festival season. “The work to fill up the potholes on the highway is going on and it will be completed before the festival commences,” the minister said.

Many to their hometowns in Raigad, Ratnagiri, Satara, Sangli, Ahmad Nagar and other places of the state from Mumbai and Navi Mumbai during Ganeshotsav festival season.