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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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
