Pay more for MTHL toll

Due to the delay in completion of Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL), motorists will have to pay an increased amount as toll than what was decided in 2012 for using the 22-km long bridge. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) had in 2012, proposed a toll of Rs 175-790 for various vehicles that will use the route via MTHL.

The earlier proposal, had proposed Rs 175 for cars, Rs 265 for light commercial vehicles, Rs 525 for buses and trucks and Rs 790 for heavy axle vehicles. However, the project has lagging behind after missing several deadlines, which also resulted in escalation of cost from Rs 11,000 to Rs 17,500 crore.

“The proposal for having toll on MTHL was proposed back in 2012 itself and also after it the toll calculation has been regularly updated by the MMRDA considering that the traffic is expected by every year. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in their study has recently submitted calculation, which is higher than what was earlier, proposed in 2012,” said a MMRDA bureaucrat.

The JICA will be funding 85 per cent of the project cost of over Rs 17,500 crore. MMRDA and JICA are expected to sign the financial closure agreement after the JICA gets formal approval from the Japanese cabinet.

“The MMRDA is yet to work on the calculation of increased toll proposed by the JICA due to cost escalation of the project. After working on the calculation we will table the fresh toll proposal in the high-power committee meeting on infrastructure for approval,” the official added.

One of the major reasons cited by the MMRDA for increase in the cost of the project is the addition of seventh lane from the initial plan of six lanes. The additional lane will be reserved for emergencies and will act as the shoulder area on the left hand side similar to that of Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Additionally Rs 300 crore will be spent by the MMRDA on environmental mitigation measures.

The 22-km bridge, of which 16.5 km will be built deep into the sea, is the country’s longest sea bridge connecting Sewri to Nhava.