Mumbai-Pune Expressway: India’s most expensive national highway
Mumbai-Pune Expressway: India’s most expensive national highway
The 94.5 km expressway, constructed in 2002, is the oldest and most costly toll road in India, with recent toll hikes reflecting its premium status.
The Mumbai-Pune Expressway connects two key cities in Maharashtra. It stands as the most expensive national highway in India. Constructed in 2002 at a cost of Rs 1.63 lakh crore by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), this six-lane expressway spans 94.5 kilometres and is the country’s first access-controlled road. The expressway has drastically reduced travel time between Mumbai and Pune from 3 hours to just 1 hour.
The expressway’s toll rates are notably higher compared to other national highways in India. As of April 2023, the toll for a four-wheeler one-way between the two cities is Rs 320, which amounts to Rs 3.40 per kilometre—Rs 1 more per kilometre than the average toll fare of other expressways in the country. The toll for other vehicles includes minibuses and tempos: Rs 495, two-axle trucks: Rs 685, buses: Rs 940, three-axle trucks: Rs 1,630, and multi-axle trucks and other machinery: Rs 2,165.
The toll is subject to an annual increase of 6%, implemented cumulatively at 18% every three years. This last adjustment in April 2023 raised the toll from Rs 270 to Rs 320 for cars and jeeps, from Rs 420 to Rs 495 for minibuses and tempos, and similarly for other vehicle categories. The toll rates are expected to remain unchanged until 2030, with the next revision scheduled for 2026.
The expressway starts in the Kalamboli area of Navi Mumbai and ends at Kiwale in Pune, making it one of the busiest routes in the country. The journey offers travellers an exhilarating experience as they cross the Sahyadri mountain range, with the road featuring tunnels and underpasses. The speed limit on the expressway is set at 100 kilometres per hour.
Under Vision 2047, there are plans to construct 50,000 kilometres of access-controlled high-speed national highways. This is a significant increase from the current 4,000 kilometres. This ambitious plan aims to enhance the efficiency and connectivity of India’s road infrastructure.
The Mumbai-Pune Expressway, constructed 22 years ago during the tenure of then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, remains a crucial and costly route in India’s highway network. Despite the high tolls, its role in reducing travel time and boosting connectivity between Mumbai and Pune is invaluable. This expressway exemplifies the potential of modern road infrastructure to transform travel and commerce in India.
