Mumbai began enforcing a new double toll policy for motorists without valid or operational FASTag or E-Tag on three major expressways: the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL), and the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Super-Expressway. This move, aimed at ensuring smoother traffic flow and promoting the use of electronic toll collection, went off with minimal disruptions on its first day of implementation.
Under the new policy, vehicles that do not have a valid FASTag or E-Tag will incur double the usual toll rate. For instance, a one-way toll on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link for a car or SUV is typically Rs 100, but vehicles without valid FASTags must pay Rs 200. Similarly, the toll on the Pune Expressway has doubled from Rs 320 to Rs 640, and the toll on the Samruddhi Super-Expressway has increased from Rs 1,450 to Rs 2,900 for vehicles without an operational tag. While the toll booths were not overwhelmed with chaos, some motorists were caught off guard by the new rule. Many were unaware of the requirement for a valid FASTag or E-Tag loaded with funds and found themselves paying the higher toll.
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), which had publicised the new toll policy through advertisements, clarified that this step was in line with guidelines from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which has rolled out similar policies nationwide. The new toll structure has faced criticism from several quarters. Activists argue that the decision is authoritarian and will disproportionately affect rural and out-of-state drivers, many of whom rely on cash for toll payments. They have demanded that at least two lanes at toll booths be allocated for vehicles that cannot use FASTag or E-Tag. The critics claim that this move will place an undue burden on these drivers, who are not as familiar with electronic payment methods, and may lead to delays and confusion.
Despite the pushback, government sources defended the decision, stating that vehicles using cash or alternative payment methods are causing congestion at toll booths. These delays, they argue, hinder the smooth passage of FASTag or E-Tag users, which undermines the efficiency of the tolling system. By implementing this policy, authorities hope to reduce such congestion, improve the flow of traffic, and lower the environmental impact of idling vehicles—ultimately contributing to the reduction of fuel consumption and air pollution.
Interestingly, the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) and the Atal Setu Bridge will not charge double tolls in order to encourage higher traffic volumes on these new routes. The authorities are keen to avoid burdening drivers further, especially considering the lower-than-expected traffic on the Atal Setu, which sees around 25,000 to 27,000 vehicles daily—far below the anticipated 56,000.
As a result, the authorities hope that easing toll fees on these routes will incentivise more vehicles to use them, potentially helping to alleviate traffic on other expressways. In the coming weeks, the effectiveness of this new toll policy will be closely monitored. While it aligns with broader goals of improving toll collection efficiency and traffic management, it also raises important questions about accessibility and fairness for all drivers. The policy’s implementation could spark further debates about the balance between technology-driven improvements and the needs of diverse vehicle users, particularly those from rural and out-of-state areas.
