<span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Like every year, this year too, the Maharashtra government has decided to give a toll waiver to citizens travelling to Konkan during Ganesh festival this year.</span> The 10-day long Ganpati festival is all set to commence from 22nd of this month.<br />'' <br />''State Public Works (Public Undertakings) Minister Eknath Shinde today said that the exemption will be given for two days before the start of Ganeshotsav and two days on the return journey. A meeting was held via video conferencing in this regard by Mr. Shinde and Minister of State for Home Affairs Shambhuraj Desai with concerned officials.<br />'' <br />'' AIR correspondent reports, State PWD minister Mr. Eknath Shinde said citizens who wish to go to Konkan for Ganeshotsav will get an immediate toll exemption sticker once they give the details including their vehicle number, name of the vehicle owner and date of travel to the local police station. He also said that it is mandatory to get the covid-19 test done and get the e-pass as per the rules of the state government before traveling to Konkan in view of the pandemic.<br />'' <br />''In another development, the Maharashtra government today told the Bombay High Court that it cannot permit Jain temples in Mumbai to open for devotees to mark the festival of Paryushan in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The state said that opening the temples from August 15 to 23 this year, as requested by the Jain community, would lead to an "imminent danger" of the spread of the virus.<br />