Key Points:
- Mumbai to increase tolls from October 1
- Cars to pay ₹40 instead of the previous ₹35
- Mini busses to pay ₹65 instead of the current ₹45
- Trucks and heavy vehicles to pay ₹130 instead of the ongoing rate of ₹105
Travelers should be ready to spend more to enter the heart of the country – Mumbai from October 1. This is because the toll rates are set to be hiked at the five entry/exit points of the city.
₹40 will have to be paid from next Thursday instead of ₹35 for cars and light motor vehicles. This amount has to be paid at the 5 entry points— Dahisar on the Western Express Highway, Airoli, Mulund on the Eastern Express Highway, Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg in Mulund and Vashi toll naka. Meanwhile mini-buses will have to pay ₹65 instead of the existing ₹45 and trucks and buses will have to pay ₹130 instead of the current rate of ₹105.
A toll was introduced at Vashi, Mulund, LBS, Airoli and Dahisar in September 2002 and it was extended in 2010 on the alleged reason of maintenance. The collection contract will continue till September 2027.
The rates are being revised as per the state government notification for toll recovery against cost of flyovers, bridges, subways, road development and maintenance.
Mumbai Entry Point Toll Ltd (MEPL) is expected to generate a cash flow of over Rs11,500 crore by 2027. MEP had paid Rs 2,100 crore upfront in 2010 to the state as part of the contract.
If one considers the bank loan interest, maintenance cost and other charges over 17 years, Mumbaikars paid more than 10 times the initial cost of Rs 2,100 crore by 2017.
The last toll rate revision took place in 2017 and the revised toll is expected to be modified every three years till September 2027. The extension of Vashi bridge lanes to 12 may add the toll period there till 2039.
