Maharashtra: CM Shinde Announces Toll-Free Travel For Light Vehicles At Key Mumbai Entry Booths

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced a complete toll waiver for light motor vehicles at all five toll booths leading into Mumbai.

This decision was made during the Maharashtra government's final cabinet meeting ahead of the Assembly elections.

The waiver, set to take effect from midnight on 14 October 2024, will apply to vehicles such as cars, jeeps, vans, and small trucks.

It will cover the Dahisar, Anand Nagar, Vaishali, Airoli, and Mulund toll booths. These toll booths have long been key to Mumbai’s road network, handling thousands of vehicles every day.

As a result, commuters using the Dahisar, LBS Road-Mulund, Eastern Express Highway-Mulund, Airoli Creek Bridge, and Vaishali tolls will no longer have to pay fees, offering significant relief for daily travellers.

However, the Atal Setu toll is excluded from this waiver.

Following the decision to exempt tolls at these five locations, the state government will need to compensate the contractors with nearly Rs 5,000 crore, as per reports.

Of the five tolls, four are due to expire in 2027, while one is set to end in 2029.

This toll waiver has been a long-standing demand from various political parties, including the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and leaders from both factions of the Shiv Sena.