SPTPL to vacate Sion-Panvel toll plaza over non-payment of dues

Sion Panvel Tollways Private Ltd (SPTPL), operator of Sion-Panvel toll road, has decided to vacate the Sion Panvel toll plaza as it has not received dues from PWD for the past two years. The company would remove all Toll barriers from December 29, 2017 onward. SPTPL would also stop all maintenance and operation activities post the mentioned date. SPTPL in a statement on Thursday alleged that it has not received the grant from PWD for maintenance and operations of the project since more than a year. SPTPL was to receive payments for maintenance and operations, but has reportedly not received around ?689 crore that PWD owes it. “Despite this, the company has shown unwavering commitment towards the project and the commuters but has been forced to take such extreme measures,” the release said. The company said that the copies of the letter intimating of the handover have been sent to the Principal Secretary, PWD and marked to the Chief Secretary, Govt of Maharashtra. The company said that PWD has shown no interest in taking over the project despite SPTPL's announcement for an earlier deadline of December 15. "SPTPL would make it a 'deemed handover' in case the concerned body does not come forward for the takeover on December 29, the new deadline," the company said.