Electronic vehicle count can curb graft

Mumbai: Transport experts said electronic counting of vehicles through CCTVs can curb corruption in toll collection. Pointing out that the vehicle count at present is conducted manually, transport analyst Jagdeep Desai said, "There is scope for manipulation and corruption. In the present system, bidders pay money to the government based on the manual vehicle count. Neither of them find it necessary to keep track of the vehicle count and the toll collection. Operators make huge profits and forget all about their responsibility to maintain the road."      Vehicle count forms the basis for awarding contractors to private players for toll collection.      Senior transport expert Ashok Datar said, "Exact count of traffic growth pattern is essential. The MNS drive will expose the wrong counting done by the government in the past."      Toll collectors, however, said the toll collection process is transparent and was sanctioned by the state government. Jayant Mhasikar of Mumbai Entry Point Toll Ltd said, "The period of toll collection, location of toll posts, the process of increasing tariff and vehicle count were approved by the government and the judiciary. As far as five toll posts on the fringes of the city are concerned, our contract is valid till 2026," said Mhaiskar.