33-hr Mumbai-Pune Expressway disruption: 1L motorists to get Rs 5.16 cr toll refund, says MSRDC

Mumbai: More than one lakh motorists who were caught up in a massive traffic gridlock on Mumbai-Pune Expressway earlier this month after a gas tanker mishap will get toll refund cumulatively valued at Rs 5.16 crore, a senior Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation official said on Sunday.

On February 3, a gas tanker turned turtle on the Khopoli stretch of the Expressway, leading to a 33-hour disruption which saw traffic come to a standstill for several kilometres, leaving many motorists and passengers facing shortage of water, food and other basic amenities.

Following the accident, the administration had ordered an immediate suspension of toll collection. However, by then, toll charges had already been deducted from the FASTag accounts of several motorists.


"It has been decided to refund the entire amount collected from vehicle owners even after the order to halt toll collection was issued. The refund of Rs 5.16 crore will be processed by MSRDC. The amount will be directly credited to FASTag accounts of affected vehicle owners in the next few days," the official told PTI.

The refund will cover toll collected on both highways and the toll operator has been asked to furnish detailed FASTag transaction data, he said.

"Some transactions may have been automatically processed before the toll plaza barriers were fully opened despite instructions to stop collection. All such transactions are being scrutinised and the amounts will be returned to the concerned motorists," the official said.