The Mumbai-Pune Expressway is a source of pride for the entire nation as it stands as the fastest highway in India. The travel time between Mumbai and Pune has been drastically reduced from 3 hours to just 1 hour. This significant reduction has made the expressway highly favorable for daily commuters and long-distance travelers alike. The expressway’s route is adorned with breathtaking views of the Sahyadri mountain ranges, several tunnels and beautiful lush green surroundings.
Now What make this expressway most expensive? This is what we are going to discussing here. The aspect that makes this route more expensive is the heavy toll tax that they collect from the commuters.
The Making Of The Fastest Expressway
Mumbai-Pune Expressway is India’s oldest six lane expressway that connects Mumbai and Pune. The route which was a dream of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was launched in 2002. It took 22 years to finish the whole expressway and will add two more lanes in the coming months. According to a Times Of India report, the authorities are planning to add one lane on each side of the expressway which will require 100 hectares of land. As per the reports, this will be for constructing eight tunnels—four each near Madap and Bhatan, and two at Kamshet—aimed at improving connectivity and infrastructure in the region. While the maximum permitted speed on other expressways is 180 km per hour, the maximum speed on the Mumbai-Pune expressway is only 100 km per hour. What is most surprising about this expressway is that it is also the first 6-lane highway in the country. There are also reports of additional lanes being added to the expressway at the beginning of this year.
Construction Cost
The Mumbai-Pune Expressway, also known as Yashwantrao Chavan Expressway, was constructed by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). The 6-lane expressway spans a total distance of around 95 kilometres connecting two megacities. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway begins at Navi Mumbai’s Kalamboli and ends at Pune’s Kiwale. When this idea of building this expressway turned up, Nitin Gadkari, who was the PWD minister of Maharashtra did not permit the tender to any private company. About Rs. 16,300 crores were spent for its construction. This was India’s first expressway, setting new standards for travelling via roadways. The expressway features three-lane concrete service roads on both sides.
What Makes It As One Of The Most Expensive Expressway?
There are more than 20 expressways in India, funded by both the state and the central government. Compared to all the expressways, the Mumbai-Pune expressway has one of the highest toll rates in the country. The toll fares are quite shocking.
A single trip by car will cost you Rs. 336, which is approximately Rs. 3.40 per kilometer. This is 1 rupee more compared to the average charge of Rs. 2.40 per kilometer. As Digital India shifted to the FASTag system, there have been instances where commuters had to pay heavy fines if their FASTag lacked sufficient balance.
