The Mumbai Pune Expressway, (officially known as the Yashwantrao Chavan Mumbai Pune Expressway) is India's first six-lane concrete, high-speed, access controlled tolled expressway It spans a distance of 93 km (58 mi) connecting Mumbai, the administrative capital of Maharashtra
The Mumbai Pune Expressway, (officially known as the Yashwantrao Chavan Mumbai Pune Expressway) is India's first six-lane concrete, high-speed, access controlled tolled expressway. It spans a distance of 93 km (58 mi) connecting Mumbai, the administrative capital of Maharashtra and the financial capital of India, with Pune, an industrial and educational hub. This expressway introduced new levels of speed and safety in automobile transportation to Indian roads. It is India's busiest expressway.
The expressway has reduced the travel time between the cities of Mumbai and Pune to approximately two hours. For most practical purposes, it has replaced the older Mumbai-Pune stretch of the Mumbai-Chennai National Highway (NH 4), which had become extremely congested and accident-prone over time. The expressway starts at Kalamboli(near Panvel) and ends at Dehu Rd.(near Pune). It cleaves through the scenic Sahyadri mountain ranges via passes and tunnels. It has five interchanges Kon (Shedung), Chowk, Khalapur, Kusgaon and Talegaon.
The expressway has two carriageways with three concrete lanes each separated by a central divider and a tarmac or concrete shoulder on either side. Vehicles with fewer than four wheels and agricultural tractors are not permitted, although tractor-trailers (semi-trailer rigs) are permitted). The expressway handles about 43,000 PCUs daily, and is designed to handle up to 1,000,000 PCUs.
Present toll rates for 95 km of the Expressway w.e.f from 01.04.2008 to 31.03.2011.
| Type of Vehicle | Toll Rates (Rates in Rupees) | ||
| Car | 140.00 | ||
| Light vehicles & mini buses | 216.00 | ||
| Trucks | 300.00 | ||
| Buses | 411.00 | ||
| 3 Axle vehicle | 710.00 | ||
| Multi axle vehicle | 946.00 |
Public Work Department, Government of Maharashtra, Mantralaya has issued Notification vide No.2000/Pr.kr.-106/Road - 8 dated 9th August 2004 for levying toll on vehicles traveling on Mumbai Pune Expressway. The rates of toll per trip is in force from 1st April 2005 to 31st March 2008.
Mumbai is the commercial capital of India and is growing significantly in size and population. So also Pune, the cultural capital of Maharashtra is growing into a major industrial and commercial centre. Hence, the importance of Mumbai - Pune road has increased tremendously in the last 8 - 10 years.
Due to the increase in the traffic every year resulting in jams, accidents, increase in travel time, has made it necessary to build a new and independent expressway. 400 persons were killed due to accidents on the existing Mumbai - Pune National Highway each year.
In 1990, the Government of Maharashtra appointed RITES and Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick of UK to carry out feasibility studies for the new expressway to be operated on toll basis. RITES submitted their report in 1994 with the estimated cost of project at Rs. 1146 crores.
The Government of Maharashtra entrusted the work of the construction of the Mumbai - Pune Expressway to MSRDC in March 1997 on Build - Operate & Transfer (BOT) basis with permission to collect toll for 30 years. The environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India was received on 13th October 1997. The Forest Clearance was received on 11th November 1997.
For the purpose of preparing detailed estimates, designs and preparation of bid documents, the work was divided into 8 sections. To facilitate proper supervision, six renowned international consultants were appointed. Initially tenders for four sections e.g. A, B, C & D were invited on 11th November 1999.
The tender notice was published in leading newspaper all over India and also on internet. Due to wide publicity 133 tenders were sold and on 18th December 1997, 55 tenders were received. After technical & financial evaluation tenders were accepted and work orders were given on 1st January 1998 to four contractors. Thereafter tenders for widening of Khandala Ghat & Lonavala - Khandala Bypass works were invited. The tenders were received on 24th August 1998 and work orders were issued on 4th September 1998. For the last section of this expressway i.e. Panval Bypass work tenders were invited and work orders were issued on 24th March 1999 and 6th April 1999.
Total Project Cost including escalation is Rs. 1630 crores.
Toll Plaza's are provided at 4 locations. Toll will be collected at these locations from vehicles using the expressway. Toll rates will depend on the distance covered by the vehicles. The toll rates for the use of the expressway for 95 km from Kalamboli to Dehu Road are as follows :-
| Type of Vehicles | Rates | Minimum |
| Car | 100.00 | 60.00 |
| Light vehicles & mini buses | 155.00 | 95.00 |
| Trucks | 215.00 | 130.00 |
| Buses | 295.00 | 180.00 |
| 3 Axle vehicle | 510.00 | 310.00 |
| Multi axle vehicle | 680.00 | 410.00 |
| Rates in Rupees | ||
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