Pune: Shivneri Passengers Stranded for an Hour at Talegaon Toll Due to Unpaid FASTag; Forced to Pool Money to Resume Journey
Pune, 18th December 2025: In a shocking instance of mismanagement by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), passengers aboard a premium Shivneri bus were left stranded at the Talegaon toll plaza for nearly an hour on Wednesday after the vehicle was stopped due to insufficient balance in its FASTag account.
The incident, which caused significant distress to commuters, only ended after the frustrated passengers were forced to collect money among themselves to pay the toll charges and allow the bus to proceed toward Pune.
According to reports, the Dadar-Pune Shivneri bus was halted by toll administration staff at the Talegaon plaza around 9.30 pm when the FASTag scanner indicated a lack of funds. Despite the bus being a premium service known for its punctuality and comfort, the driver and conductor were reportedly unable to resolve the payment issue immediately.
The resulting standoff led to a delay of approximately one hour. Among the stranded passengers was a six months pregnant woman, and the group collectively faced severe inconvenience and mental harassment due to the unexpected halt.
With no immediate resolution coming from the depot or the bus staff, the passengers eventually took matters into their own hands. They organized a collection (vargani) to cover the toll fee of Rs 900. It was only after this cash payment was made by the commuters that the barrier was lifted, and the bus was allowed to continue its journey.
This incident has raised serious questions regarding the maintenance and operational efficiency of MSRTC’s premium fleet, particularly how a luxury bus service could be dispatched without ensuring basic compliance requirements like FASTag balances were met.
