1.2 Lakh Motorists to Get Rs 5.16 Crore Refund For 32-Hour Mumbai-Pune Expressway Jam: MSRDC

Pune, 21st February 2026: More than 1.2 lakh motorists will be reimbursed about Rs 5.16 crore after toll was collected during a 32-hour traffic standstill triggered by a gas tanker accident near Khopoli on February 3 along the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, officials from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) said on Saturday.

According to officials, the refund will apply to toll payments made on both the expressway and the Pune-Bengaluru Highway after instructions had been issued to suspend toll collection. A senior MSRDC official said records show that some transactions were processed even after the suspension order, and those commuters will receive reimbursements directly in their FASTag accounts within the next week.

The corporation had earlier assured motorists that toll charges collected during the prolonged disruption on the Mumbai-bound stretch would be returned. To verify the transactions, MSRDC requested detailed deduction data from concessionaire IRB Infrastructure. Officials said the firm was asked to confirm whether any toll was charged after it had been informed about the suspension directive. The official explained that until barriers were fully opened, automated deductions may have continued briefly, and data was sought to identify affected users so refunds can be processed.

The tanker accident caused massive congestion, leaving thousands stranded for hours without access to food, water, or medical assistance. Many travellers, including elderly passengers, women, and children, reported hardship and missed travel plans. Public criticism intensified after reports indicated toll collection continued temporarily at Khalapur Toll Plaza despite the emergency.

Opposition leaders, including Raj Thackeray, called for authorities and operators to compensate affected commuters and improve crisis response systems. The incident also renewed scrutiny of highway infrastructure, with critics alleging that emergency preparedness and basic facilities for stranded motorists were inadequate.

Consumer advocacy groups such as Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat and All India Consumer Rights Organisation have issued legal notices to officials, demanding accountability and a standardized policy to prevent similar situations on highways in the future.