Mumbai: The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) announced a toll hike on the Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Expressway, which connects Mumbai and Nagpur, starting April 1. Even though the entire stretch of the expressway is yet to be opened for public use, motorists will now have to pay up to 20 per cent more to use the existing sections.
Currently, the toll rate per kilometre stands at Rs 1.73 for light motor vehicles, Rs 2.79 for light motor commercial vehicles, Rs 5.85 for heavy vehicles with two axles, Rs 6.38 for those with three axles, Rs 9.18 for heavy construction machinery and Rs 11.17 for oversized vehicles with seven or more axles.
Revised Toll Rates
From April 1, these rates will be revised to Rs 2.06 for light motor vehicles, Rs 3.32 for light motor commercial vehicles, Rs 6.97 for heavy vehicles with two axles, Rs 7.60 for those with three axles, Rs 10.93 for heavy construction machinery and Rs 13.30 for oversized vehicles, according to a Hindustan Times report.
An official from MSRDC confirmed the scheduled increase, stating that a public notice has already been issued regarding the change. However, when asked about the opening of the remaining 76 kilometres of the expressway leading to Mumbai, the official only mentioned that the section is ready and will be opened soon.
Phase-Wise Inauguration Of Mega Expressway
The expressway has been inaugurated in phases, with the first 520 kilometres between Nagpur and Shirdi being opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 11, 2022. The second phase, covering 105 kilometres from Shirdi to Bharvir, was inaugurated on May 23, 2023, by the then Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Another 25-kilometre stretch between Bharvir and Igatpuri was opened for motorists on March 4, 2024, without any formal political event. This leaves only the last 76 kilometres up to Amane near Bhiwandi yet to be operational.
At Amane, the expressway will connect with the Mumbai-Vadodara Expressway, which extends from the Jawaharlal Nehru Port on one end to Gujarat on the other. Until the final section is opened, a temporary provision has been made to allow vehicles to transition between the Mumbai-Nashik Highway and the Samruddhi Expressway.
First announced in November 2015, construction on this greenfield expressway began in February 2019 and was divided into 16 packages. Toll collection has been planned for a period of 40 years, ensuring that the project generates revenue for maintenance and repayment over the long term.
