Highway Toll Hike Sparks Concerns Among Commuters and Transporters, No Change On Pune Mumbai Expressway
Highway Toll Hike Sparks Concerns Among Commuters and Transporters, No Change On Pune Mumbai Expressway
Toll booths nationwide are witnessing a 5% uptick in charges.
4 June 2024
From Monday onwards, commuters across the nation are experiencing a pinch in their pockets as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has implemented an average 5% toll hike on highways. This increase, originally slated for 1st April, was delayed due to the Lok Sabha elections.
Senior officials from NHAI’s Pune division disclosed that toll rates at key plazas along the Pune-Satara and Pune-Nashik highways have seen an average 3% rise.
At Anewadi Plaza, the toll for cars remains unchanged for single trips at Rs. 80 but has increased to Rs. 125 for round trips from the previous Rs. 120. Meanwhile, for LMVs (Light Motor Vehicles), the single trip toll now stands at Rs. 135, up from Rs. 130, and Rs. 200 for round trips, previously Rs. 195.
Similarly, at Khed Shivapur Plaza, cars now pay Rs. 120 for single trips instead of Rs. 115 and Rs. 180 for round trips instead of Rs. 175. LMVs also face higher tolls of Rs. 190 for single trips (previously Rs. 185) and Rs. 285 for round trips (previously Rs. 280). Trucks and buses are not spared either, with tolls increasing from Rs. 390 to Rs. 400 for single trips and from Rs. 585 to Rs. 650 for round trips.
However, not everyone is pleased with these adjustments. Baba Shinde, president of the Maharashtra State Goods and Passenger Transport Association, expressed concern over the toll hike, citing the already soaring prices of diesel, which exceeds Rs. 90 per litre. He predicts that this increase will inevitably affect the prices of various commodities.
In contrast, there is a silver lining for commuters on the Pune-Mumbai expressway as toll rates remain untouched.
