The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) has strongly opposed plans to begin toll collection on the incomplete Mumbai-Goa national highway. Toll operations are slated to commence on May 15 at Kharpada, with the contract reportedly awarded for a period of three months, despite the highway’s construction remaining unfinished.

Prasad Bhoir, the Raigad district in-charge, submitted a formal representation to the National Highway Authority, urging that toll collection be suspended until the highway’s completion. He also demanded that Konkan residents be granted toll exemptions equivalent to the duration of construction delays affecting the project.

The Shiv Sena has issued a clear warning that it will not tolerate the decision to implement tolls under these circumstances. Additionally, the party expressed concerns over the widespread use of Hindi-language signage along the highway corridor, calling for Marathi to be given priority on all directional and informational signs.

The party further called for a high-level inquiry into the unfinished state of the highway, urging accountability and strict action against responsible officials and contractors. It also demanded the swift resolution of land acquisition issues, alongside the immediate completion of service roads, flyovers, underpasses, and pedestrian facilities to ensure full operational safety and convenience.

The ongoing dispute underlines tensions surrounding infrastructure projects in the region, particularly regarding transparency, regional language representation, and equitable treatment of local communities affected by delays.