Return Toll Money To Commuters, Says Raj Thackeray After 32-Hour Mumbai–Pune Expressway Blockade
Return Toll Money To Commuters, Says Raj Thackeray After 32-Hour Mumbai–Pune Expressway Blockade
Mumbai, February 5, 2026: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray has strongly criticised the state government over the nearly 32-hour shutdown of the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, calling the incident a reflection of administrative apathy and lack of preparedness.
In a statement shared on his social media platforms, Thackeray said commuters faced immense hardship after a gas tanker overturned on the expressway around 5 pm on Tuesday, February 3. While he acknowledged that halting traffic for safety reasons was appropriate, he questioned whether the administration had a clear emergency action plan to restore traffic in the shortest possible time.
Thackeray pointed out that the expressway, inspired by the vision of late Balasaheb Thackeray, has completed 24 years. However, he alleged that no serious thought was given over the years to potential disasters or to maintaining the road at the highest standards. He remarked that the only activity carried out with consistency and urgency was toll collection.
Referring to the MNS agitation against tolls in the past, Thackeray clarified that the protest was never against toll collection itself, but against the lack of facilities and services provided to commuters despite charging toll fees. He questioned whether the government’s responsibility ends with building roads and collecting tolls.
The MNS chief also criticised the recent announcement of a Mumbai–Pune high-speed train in the state budget, stating that while such projects may materialise in the future, the immediate priority should be to ensure smooth and reliable road travel between the two cities.
Thackeray further demanded that toll collected from commuters during the disruption period should be refunded. He urged the government to stop the “farce of inquiries” and instead present a concrete action plan addressing possible emergencies and immediate response measures. He also questioned why citizens feel helpless despite the presence of guardian ministers in the government, calling on the administration to reflect on its accountability.
