Over one lakh motorists to get toll refund after Mumbai-Pune Expressway jam

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has announced a toll refund of Rs 5.16 crore for over one lakh motorists affected by a prolonged traffic standstill on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway earlier this month. The refund will be credited directly to FASTag accounts in the coming days, according to officials.

The disruption followed an incident in which a gas tanker overturned near the Adoshi Tunnel in the Khandala Ghat section, triggering safety protocols that brought traffic to a complete halt for more than 33 hours, with queues stretching for nearly 20 kilometres by the following evening.

1. Refund covers tolls charged during the standstill in both directions of the expressway
2. No claims required; refunds will be auto-credited to affected FASTag accounts
3. Toll operator instructed to share full FASTag transaction data for verification

Refund to cover multiple highway sections

According to MSRDC officials, the refund will apply not only to tolls collected on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway but also on affected sections of the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway during the disruption period. Toll operators have been directed to submit detailed FASTag transaction data to identify eligible vehicles.

“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 and credited directly to FASTag accounts,” an official told PTI.

Incident led to complete shutdown of Pune-bound lane

The crisis was triggered when the gas-filled tanker overturned near the Khopoli stretch, prompting emergency response from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) teams.

As a precautionary measure, the Pune-bound lane of the expressway was fully closed, and traffic was diverted to the old Mumbai-Pune Highway. Toll collection was ordered to be suspended, but FASTag deductions continued briefly due to system delays, leading to the decision to issue refunds.

No action required from motorists

MSRDC has clarified that vehicle owners do not need to file individual claims. Toll amounts deducted during the disruption will be automatically refunded and credited directly to the affected FASTag accounts in the coming days.

The refunds will be processed using FASTag transaction data provided by the toll operator and credited to the same accounts from which the tolls were deducted. Motorists are advised to check their FASTag balances or statements over the next few days to confirm receipt.