In Uttar Pradesh, the government has decided to abolish the system of toll tax at various bridges across the state. A decision to this effect was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mayawati. An official spokes person has claimed that this decision has been taken in a bid to ensure smooth flow of traffic on highways. The spokesperson has said that barriers were erected at such toll bridges by contractors causing discomfort to commuters and delay in transportation of essential commodities to their destinations. It has also been said that the revenue collected as toll tax is insignificant in comparison of problems faced by commuters and transporters and loss of petro products.<br/>It has been clarified that this decision would not affect toll bridges on national and state highways built on Public Private Partnership of design, built, finance.<br/>Meanwhile, the government has approved a proposal for increasing bus fares by 21 per cent in the urban areas. However, fares of districts and rural bus services have not been hiked. The fare of State Road Transport Corporation was not revised from 2005.<br/>The government has said that due to hike of cost of diesel and implementation of sixth pay commission recommendations, the expenditure of Corporation has increased in many folds and to meet out the burden fare has been hiked.<br/> <br/>