Toll collection to continue even after 2045 on the Mumbai-Pune expressway?

While the political controversy over the toll collection in the state is going on, there is no chance of getting rid of the toll collection on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway even after 2045 for the next few years. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) prepared a proposal for allocating a fund of INR 5,000 crore for the eight-lane development or to extend the toll period to recover this cost. If the period of toll collection is extended, toll will have to be paid even after 2045.

The Mumbai-Pune Expressway has made it possible to travel from Mumbai to Pune in two and a half hours. Currently, 55 lakh vehicles ply on this route every day. However, now this route is becoming insufficient and the number of vehicles is likely to increase in the future. Therefore, it was decided to make the six-lane highway eight-lane. The proposal in this regard has been sent to the state government for approval in August. According to this proposal, an estimated expenditure of five thousand crore rupees is expected for the eight-lane highway. MSRDC is awaiting the approval of this proposal. The question before 'MSRDC' was how to raise the funds required for the eight-levelling of the highway.


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A senior officer informed that the MSRDC has prepared a financial proposal in this regard. Accordingly, an option has been suggested that the state government should make this fund available under the budgetary provision. Also 'MSRDC' will raise this fund itself and make eight tiers. However, this official informed that another option has been suggested that the period of toll collection on the Mumbai-Pune expressway should be extended to recover the same.

Which option will the government accept? 
A proposal will be sent to the state government regarding both the options whether the state government should provide funds under the budget provision or extend the toll period. The project will be routed according to the option approved by the government. If the government chooses the second option, the toll collection will continue for the next few years even after 2045. Therefore, it will be important which option the government will accept.