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Toll hiked by 3%-5%, NHAI makes FASTag mandatory across highways
Pune highway tolls rise by 3%-5% from April 1, impacting daily commuters. Cashless payments are now mandatory, with penalties for non-compliance.
Pune: Toll charges on major Pune highways, including Pune–Satara, Pune–Kolhapur, Pune–Solapur and Pune–Nashik, have increased by 3% to 5% from April 1. This revision by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) means higher daily travel costs for commuters and transporters across the district.
At the Khed Shivapur toll plaza on the Pune–Satara highway, one of the busiest entry and exit points for the city, the revised toll for cars, jeeps and vans now stands at ₹125 for a one-way journey and ₹185 for a return trip. Light commercial vehicles will pay ₹200 for a single trip and ₹295 for a return trip, while buses and trucks are charged ₹415 one way and ₹620 for a return trip. Multi-axle heavy vehicles will face even steeper costs, with tolls increasing to ₹1,190 for return journeys, depending on axle configuration.
Officials said the revision is part of the annual exercise linked to inflation and maintenance costs of national highways.
Aadesh Singh, an IT professional who commutes frequently between Pune and Satara, said, “The hike may appear marginal, but for those travelling daily, it adds up to a sizable monthly expense. Combined with fuel and maintenance costs, it is becoming increasingly expensive to commute.”
Echoing similar concerns, Sunil Jadhav, a transporter operating on the Pune–Nashik and Pune–Solapur routes, said the revision would directly affect logistics costs. “Toll charges are a major component of operating expenses for commercial vehicles. Every increase eventually reflects in freight rates, which impacts businesses and consumers alike,” he said.
In a parallel move, NHAI has enforced a complete shift to cashless toll collection at these plazas, making FASTag and digital payment modes mandatory. Vehicles without a valid FASTag or with insufficient balance will be liable to pay double the toll amount as penalty, while those opting for alternative digital payments such as UPI may be charged an additional amount.
The move is aimed at streamlining toll operations and eliminating long queues that have frequently led to delays and fuel wastage, said officials.
“The toll rates at Khed Shivapur have increased by around three per cent compared to last year. Local residents can continue to avail of concessional monthly passes for non-commercial vehicles. From April 1, cash transactions have been completely discontinued to ensure smoother and faster movement of traffic,” said Amit Bhatia, NHAI toll road manager.
No toll hike on Pune-Mumbai Expressway
There has been no change in toll rates on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway for this financial year. The toll for cars, jeeps and SUVs continues to remain at ₹320 for a one-way journey, while light commercial vehicles and minibuses are charged ₹495, buses ₹940, and multi-axle vehicles between ₹1,630 and ₹2,165. The existing toll structure includes charges at both Khalapur and Talegaon toll plazas, which form part of the expressway stretch.
