Travelling to Pune today? Get ready to pay Rs195 on Expressway

Motorists travelling on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway will have to shell out more toll, starting today.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) announced an 18% increase in toll charges on the expressway. The revised toll charges will be applicable a day after MNS chief Raj Thackeray, who is well-known for his anti-toll views, held a public rally in Pune on Monday. In February, Thackeray had urged people, while addressing a rally in Pune, not to pay any toll.

In the new fare structure, those travelling to Pune by car from Mumbai will have to pay Rs30 toll at Vashi and then Rs195 (Rs165+Rs30) on the expressway.
The toll will keep increasing every three years till 2030, Arun Deodhar, MSRDC chief engineer, said.

Activists said while MSRDC doesn't forget to increase the toll, it is not so bothered about providing basic safety features like Brifen wires, rumble strips, CCTVs and trauma care ambulances.

Deodhar said Brifen wires have been installed at a few places.

Tanmay Pendse of Fulora Foundation, an NGO involved in safety on the expressway, said: "The toll hike is not justified. MSRDC should display what they have done with the money they collected over the past three years for the safety of people travelling on the E-way."