Maharashtra government to enforce cashless toll payments from April 1
penalty for other payment modes
Mumbai: The Maharashtra government will mandate cashless toll payments across all toll plazas operated by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) from April 1, 2025.
Drivers will be required to use FASTag or E-Tag for toll payments, with other payment methods no longer being accepted. Those who attempt to pay using cash, smart cards, credit/debit cards, or QR codes will face penalties. Non-compliance will result in a fine of double the toll charge, and vehicles without a valid FASTag will be penalised an amount equal to the toll, as reported by The Indian Express on Friday.
The new rule will be enforced at five major toll plazas in Mumbai—Vashi, Airoli, Dahisar, Mulund Eastern Express Highway, and LBS Marg Mulund/Thane. Additionally, toll plazas on key highways such as the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, NH-48, and the Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link will also adopt digital payment methods.
Other locations affected include 23 toll plazas along the Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, five under Nagpur’s Integrated Road Development Project (IRDP), four under Solapur’s IRDP, three under Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar’s IRDP, as well as the Katol Bypass and the Chimur-Warora-Vani route, added the report.
An official from MSRDC told IE that this move aligns with policies set by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and directives from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). A government resolution formalising the shift to cashless toll payments has been issued.
Meanwhile, few vehicles will be exempt from paying tolls at Mumbai’s entry and exit points. Light motor vehicles (LMVs), state transport buses, and school buses will not be charged tolls at five locations—Dahisar, Anand Nagar (Eastern Express Highway), Mulund (LBS Road), Vashi, and Airoli.
Despite these exemptions, toll operators are reportedly expected to face an annual revenue loss of approximately Rs 460 crore, or Rs 1.26 crore per day. The government has assured compensation to MSRDC, with a committee tasked to determine the compensation amount.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
