Mumbai : Tollway users can expect to keep paying toll at the five entry points to Mumbai for the next 25 years at least, according to the Maharashtra State Road and Development Corporation (MSRDC). The state government resolution (GR) issued in 2002 for five toll nakas – Vashi, Dahisar, Mulund (Eastern Express Highway), Mulund (Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg) and Airoli (Mulund-Airoli Link Road) allows MSRDC to do so for the next 25 years, an official said.
The MSRDC official said, “Although the GR allows toll collection at Mumbai’s five toll nakas upto 2027 and for the Bandra-Worli Sea Link up to 2052, once the contract expires, only the government can direct us on the duration of the next contract – whether it should be for three, five or fifteen years. Toll collection will continue until we(MSRDC) become self-sustained.”
The GR also mentions a five per cent increase in toll once every three years. This means, at the five toll nakas — Airoli, Dahisar, Mulund, Vashi and Thane, drivers who currently pay Rs 55 per trip, will have to shell out Rs 65 after 2020. A revised GR dated December 4, 2017, has also extended toll collection on the Bandra-Worli sea link until March 31, 2052.
The state government wants to recover the revised capital expenditure of the project and recovery of two per cent interest on the loan, which is the reason it has cited for this decision. The project cost escalated due to change in the detailed project report, environment hurdles and others factors during the implementation of the project. However, the revised plan did not include the increased cost and therefore, the project cost remained Rs 1,306 crore, instead of Rs 1,975 crore.