Toll-free entry in Mumbai from midnight. Who will it benefit?

At midnight on October 14, commuters heading into Mumbai will find a rare treat—no toll charges or long lines.

The Maharashtra government on Monday announced a complete waiver of toll fees for light motor vehicles at all five major toll booths across the city, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said.

This decision, made in the final cabinet meeting before Maharashtra’s Assembly elections, will be a welcome change for regular commuters. Smaller vehicles entering Mumbai via key points—Dahisar, Mulund (LBS Road and Eastern Express Highway), Airoli Creek Bridge, and Vashi—are now exempt from toll fees.

Here’s a closer look at what this new toll-free access means for Mumbaikars.

But first, why were the tolls being collected?

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), led at the time by Nitin Gadkari, constructed 55 flyovers across Mumbai to improve traffic flow. To fund these flyovers, toll booths were set up at the city’s entrances, reports India Today.

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By 1999, when flyover construction was almost complete, a tender was issued to establish toll booths, which became fully operational by 2002. This marked the start of toll collection at Mumbai’s main entry points.

According to activists, the costs for construction and maintenance were fully recovered over a decade ago. Despite this, the government continued toll collection.

Currently, toll charges are set at Rs 45 and Rs 75 for light motor vehicles at each of the five toll booths.

Light motor vehicles—which include cars, jeeps, vans, taxis, and small trucks—make up 80 per cent of the six lakh vehicles entering Mumbai daily.

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In 2023, the Maharashtra government extended toll collection until 2027, expecting to generate an additional Rs 11,000 crore in revenue.

However, this decision met with resistance from activists and political parties, including the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and leaders from both Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena factions.

Recently, Aaditya Thackeray of Shiv Sena (UBT) also renewed the call for a toll-free entry, pushing for a policy change for all commuters.

Shivsena leader Aaditya Thackeray demands stoppage of Toll collection at Entry/ Exit points to Mumbai. When MSRDC has handed over the upkeep of Western & Eastern Express Highways to BMC, why is it still collecting toll, he asked. Tolls in Mumbai will cease the minute his party… pic.twitter.com/2yDBA7bWgj

— MUMBAI NEWS (@Mumbaikhabar9) August 7, 2023

A ‘masterstroke’ move: Shinde

On Monday, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde announced toll-free entry into Mumbai, calling it a “masterstroke” aimed at saving time, reducing fuel costs, and curbing pollution.

“It was a long pending demand to waive toll at Mumbai’s entry points. Many activists, including I, had approached the court demanding the same. Just like we implemented Laadli Bahin, Laadla Bhai and Laadla farmers, now we have implemented Laadle commuters’ scheme. It is a masterstroke decision,” he said.

#Live📍मुंबई

🗓️ 14-10-2024 📹 पत्रकारांशी संवाद
https://t.co/5uQqOVo5AH

— Eknath Shinde - एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) October 14, 2024

Shinde also dismissed the opposition’s claims that the move was a pre-election tactic, asserting that it’s a permanent measure intended for the benefit of the public.

Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi had criticised the timing of the decision, calling it a “desperate measure” before the Maharashtra polls.

Chaturvedi claimed the decision aims to deflect attention from issues like law and order in the state, referencing the recent murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique.

Desperate measure just hours before election code of conduct shows that Mahajhoothi government knows their days are numbered so try and salvage whatever little they can to save themselves from the public’s wrath. Also because it has been under severe fire for the absolute and…

— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) October 14, 2024

Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole also termed the Maharashtra government’s decision as an election “gimmick” and urged people to “not take it seriously,” reported ANI.

On the other hand, MNS leader Raj Thackeray hailed the toll exemption as a victory for citizens.

“Congratulations to all the citizens living in the Mumbai Metropolitan Area and a big congratulations to my Maharashtra soldiers. We fought hard for the demand for transparency in toll transactions. We were criticised for vandalising the toll booths but now every Mumbaikar can travel toll-free,” he wrote.

मुंबईत प्रवेश करणाऱ्या पाचही टोल नाक्यांवर आज मध्यरात्रीपासून हलक्या वाहनांना टोलमुक्ती मिळणार आहे. याबद्दल एमएमआर परिसरात राहणाऱ्या सर्व नागरिकांचे अभिनंदन आणि माझ्या महाराष्ट्र सैनिकांचा खूप खूप अभिनंदन.

टोलच्या व्यवहारात पारदर्शकता हवी, आणि जिथे रस्त्याच्या कामांचे पैसे वसूल…

— Raj Thackeray (@RajThackeray) October 14, 2024

While the leader congratulated the state government for such a step, he hoped that it was not done keeping the upcoming Assembly polls in mind.