Single operator for all 26 tolls on 701km Samruddhi e-way: MSRDC

Nagpur: In a move to start the Nagpur-Mumbai super expressway titled Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited (MSRDC) has finalized 26 toll stations in the stretch of 701km. Only one experienced operator will maintain and run all 26 toll stations for first three years.
MSRDC’s special purpose vehicle — Nagpur Mumbai Super Communication Expressway Limited (NMSCEL) — floated a tender on Tuesday for appointment of one operator for all 26 toll stations. As per tender, last date for submission of bids is February 4, 2022, which raises a question on recent announcement by MSRDC minister Eknath Shinde about opening of stretch from Nagpur to Shirdi in February next year.
Till now, there was no clarity on number of toll stations on the expressway being constructed at a cost of Rs55,000 crore.
MSRDC vice-chairman and managing director Radheshyam Mopalwar told TOI, “It is final that there will be 26 toll stations. Notification of toll prices for vehicles will be issued before appointment of operator,” he said.
MSRDC officials said construction of toll stations is underway. “All 26 toll stations will be operated on latest technology system and installation is also going on,” they said.
As per tender, the operator should have average minimum net worth of Rs420 crore in last three financial years, of which 50% shall be from toll collection works. Security deposit and performance security is Rs22 crore each while earnest money deposit is Rs16.07 crore.
Criteria mentioned in the tender calls for very highly experienced toll operating company.
During Shinde’s visit to the city in August, MSRDC joint managing director Anilkumar Gaikwad said toll for one-way journey from Nagpur to Mumbai will be around Rs1,100. Earlier, MSRDC officials had said vehicles will have to pay toll for only the kilometres they travel on 120-meter wide cement concrete road.
Four toll stations are likely to come up on package-I and package-II in Nagpur division. Crossing through 10 districts of the state, the expressway is likely to have 24 wayside amenity centres.
MSRDC officials said there will be a wayside amenity centre in around 60km on each side. “Already, 6.5 hectare land has been acquired for each centre, and works are going on for petrol pumps, air filing station, motel, restaurant, toilets etc,” they said.
Mopalwar said three oil companies run by the government have been asked to run petrol pumps on the expressway. “Remaining works will be started at later stage.”
Toll stations and wayside amenity centres, especially petrol pumps with air filing station, toilets, restaurant, are required for starting traffic.
Package-I in the district is reportedly late compared to other packages. Mopalwar inspected this package twice in last one month. “I am not worried about the delay but pushing for completion of works as soon as possible,” he said.
MSRDC had also proposed to develop 20 new townships and land acquisition has been going on for last four years,