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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Drug peddler's property worth Rs 1 crore attached in Srinagar
Srinagar (PTI): Property worth Rs 1 crore belonging to a notorious drug peddler was on Saturday attached in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar, police said.
A double-storey house on eight marlas of land situated at Wantpora Eidgah, belonging to Basit Bilal Dar, a notorious drug peddler, valued at approximately Rs 1 crore, a police spokesperson said.
He said Dar is involved in two cases registered under various sections of the NDPS Act.
During investigation, it was established that the accused had acquired the said property through illicit proceeds generated from drug trafficking activities, the spokesperson said.
Consequently, the property was attached under the provisions of the NDPS Act. The attachment proceedings were conducted in the presence of the two independent witnesses, strictly in accordance with the prescribed legal procedures, he said.
As per the attachment order, the owner has been restrained from selling, leasing, transferring, altering, or creating any third-party interest in the property till further orders, the spokesperson added.
