Maharashtra hikes toll on 'incomplete' Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg

Samruddhi Expressway

The Maharashtra state government on Thursday revised toll rate on Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, even though the whole expressway segment that connects Mumbai and Nagpur has not yet opened.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has increased the one-way toll for four-wheelers including SUVs from the existing Rs 1,250 to Rs 1,450 for the entire 701-km stretch of the corridor.

Currently, the per km toll rate stands at Rs 1.73 for light motor vehicles, Rs 2.79 for light motor commercial vehicles, Rs 5.85 for heavy vehicles having 2 axles, Rs 6.38 for heavy vehicles with 3 axles, Rs 9.18 for heavy construction machinery, and Rs 11.17 for oversized vehicles having 7 or more axles.

As per the revised per km toll chart, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) will charge Rs 2.06 will be levied on light motor vehicles, Rs 3.32 on light motor commercial vehicles, Rs 6.97 on heavy vehicles having 2 axles, Rs 7.60 on heavy vehicles with 3 axles, Rs 10.93 on heavy construction machinery, and Rs 13.30 on oversized vehicles having 7 or more axles.

However, several activists have raised objections regarding the timing, stating that the initial 500-km stretch of Samruddhi from Nagpur to Shirdi, inaugurated in Dec 2022, has not yet completed three years of operation to warrant a toll increase.

Notably, the actual collection amounts are usually updated every three years, while the toll rates for all MSRDC or state government-operated facilities are adjusted annually.

On December 11, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a 520 km stretch of the expressway connecting Nagpur to Shirdi. Subsequently, on May 23, 2023, the then Chief Minister Eknath Shinde opened another 105 km section from Shirdi to Bharvir. Without any political event, an additional 25 km stretch, from Bharvir to Igatpuri, was made accessible to motorists on March 4, 2024. Only the final 76 km, leading up to Amane near Bhiwandi, remains to be opened.