Ahead of Maharashtra polls, no toll for light motor vehicles entering Mumbai

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde

Ahead of Maharashtra assembly polls,  Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday announced a full toll waiver for light motor vehicles at all five toll booths entering Mumbai.

The rule will be implemented from Monday night. Commuters will now be able to use small vehicles without paying tolls from all five toll booths, namely Dahisar, Mulund, Vashi, Airoli, and Tinhanth Naka. The toll charge was Rs 45.

"At the time of entry into Mumbai, there were 5 toll plazas, including Dahisar toll, Anand Nagar toll, Vaishali, Airoli and Mulund. Rs. 45 and Rs. 75 were charged at these tolls, this was in effect till 2026. About 3.5 lakh vehicles used to travel up and down. About 70 thousand of them were heavy vehicles and 2.80 lakh were light vehicles. Today, the government has decided to exempt light vehicles from toll after 12 midnight...The time that people used to spend in queues will be saved. The government was discussing it for many months and today this revolutionary decision has been taken," said minister Dadaji Dagadu Bhuse.

#WATCH | Maharashtra Govt announces full toll exemption for all light motor vehicles entering Mumbai.Maharashtra minister Dadaji Dagadu Bhuse says "At the time of entry into Mumbai, there were 5 toll plazas, including Dahisar toll, Anand Nagar toll, Vaishali, Airoli and Mulund. pic.twitter.com/jTsy4nKvN2
ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2024

According to reports, the decision was taken during the Maharashtra government’s final cabinet meeting before the upcoming Assembly elections. This decision is aimed at benefitting daily commuters entering  Mumbai in smaller vehicles. The toll booths at these locations have long been a significant part of Mumbai's road infrastructure and serve thousands of vehicles daily.

Over six lakh vehicles enter and exit Mumbai daily, according to estimates.  Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray criticised the state government for failing to fulfill its earlier promise of making Mumbai toll-free.

Earlier,  Thackeray questioned Shinde’s move of withdrawing his court petition against toll collection in Mumbai and Thane. He alleged that the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance had promised to make Maharashtra toll-free but failed to act on it.