Expect a smoother ride along the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, without having to pay more money at the toll naka.
Expect a smoother ride along the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, without having to pay more money at the toll naka.
The state’s plans to widen and augment the capacity of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and the old Mumbai-Pune Highway will not lead to a hike in toll for motorists using these roads, officials said.
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation’s (MSRDC) estimated expenditure is Rs4,500 crore. After widening the road, the vehicle capacity will increase and that will add to the revenue. Hence, the authority won’t increase the toll fare.
Sources told DNA that as part of the Expressway’s capacity augmentation plan, the road will be widened from six lanes to eight lanes. A 12km tunnel will also be constructed between Khopoli and Sinhagad institute.
The expansion of the old highway from four lanes to six lanes has been sent to the cabinet sub-committee on infrastructure for approval.
“Though the project is estimated to cost around Rs4,500 crore, we will not hike the toll charges.
As the vehicular traffic will increase, the additional toll will recover costs of the project,” a source said.
The source added that the MSRDC had a “concession period” or period till the year 2030 to levy toll on those who use their roads.
At present, cars are charged Rs165 for a one-way trip on the Expressway from Mumbai to Pune.
The proposed tunnel will do away with traffic jams on the stretch where the Expressway merges with the old Mumbai-Pune Highway near Lonavala and save around 30 minutes to an hour.
Though the 95-km Expressway has redefined road travel between Mumbai and Pune, 854 people have lost their lives in accidents in the past seven years. MSRDC officials admit that the rising traffic load and lack of capacity have led to service levels slipping from C category (acceptable) from B (good).
There are talks of the old highway being widened to six lanes from Dehu Road to Nigdi at the Pune end and from Kalamboli to Shil near Mumbai. Facilities like footpaths and interchanges will also be constructed.
@dhavalkulkarni
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}