MSRDC to Refund Rs 5 Crore Toll After 33 Hour Mumbai to Pune Expressway Jam
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has announced a total toll refund of Rs 5.16 crore. This refund is for more than one lakh motorists who were stranded for 33 hours on the Mumbai to Pune Expressway earlier this month. The massive traffic jam was caused by an overturned gas tanker.
Details of the Incident
The accident happened on February 3 in the Khopoli section of the Expressway. The overturned tanker caused a traffic jam that stretched for several kilometers. Travelers faced a difficult time without access to food, water, or restrooms.
How the Refund Works
After the accident, authorities ordered toll collection to stop immediately. However, many drivers had already had toll fees deducted from their FASTag accounts.
“We have decided to refund the full amount collected from vehicle owners. MSRDC will process the Rs 5.16 crore refund, and the money will be sent directly to FASTag accounts in the next few days,” a senior MSRDC official told PTI.
The refund covers tolls collected on both highways. The toll operator is now providing detailed transaction data to identify all affected drivers.
Fixing Technical Errors
The official explained that some payments were processed automatically before the toll gates were fully opened. “Even though we ordered the collection to stop, some transactions went through. We are reviewing all these cases and will return the money to the motorists,” the official added.
Future Improvements and Safety Measures
In response to the crisis, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a full investigation into how emergencies are handled. A seven member committee will look into what went wrong and create a new plan for managing emergency traffic.
The state is also working faster to finish the 13.3km “Missing Link” bypass project. This project includes two tunnels and the tallest cable stayed bridge in Asia. It is expected to open on May 1 and aims to prevent future traffic jams in the accident-prone Lonavala ghat area.
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