Pune: State Govt Defends Somatane Toll Plaza Amid Protests; Activists Call Indefinite Stir from July 22
Talegaon, 18th July 2025: The Maharashtra government has clarified that the Somatane toll plaza on the old Pune-Mumbai highway will remain functional until 2035, as per the revised concession agreement signed in 2016. The statement came during the ongoing Monsoon Session of the state assembly amid rising public outcry and demands for the toll booth’s closure.
Responding to concerns raised by local residents and commuters over alleged violations, Minister Dada Bhuse said, “The toll plazas in question are operating in compliance with existing regulations and were legally sanctioned well before the 2008 notification mandating a minimum distance between two toll booths.”
He further explained that the Somatane toll plaza, along with three others—Varsoli, Shil Phata, and Shedung—were approved under a government notification issued in 2006. “Originally, toll collection was permitted till 2020, but a revised agreement signed on September 20, 2016, extended the duration up to 2035,” Bhuse informed the House.
However, residents of Talegaon Dabhade and surrounding areas remain unconvinced and have announced an indefinite sit-in protest beginning July 22. Activists allege that the Somatane toll violates multiple norms, including being situated less than 10km from a municipal council and just 31km from another toll plaza.
Raising the issue in the assembly, Maval MLA Sunil Shelke questioned the legality of the toll operations. “As per the rules, there should be at least 60 kilometers between two toll plazas. But the gap between Somatane and Varsoli is merely 31 kilometers,” he said.
Shelke also highlighted civic issues affecting daily commuters. “The contractor is responsible for road maintenance, yet the condition is poor. Moreover, there are no public toilets, and traffic jams are common at the toll point, leading to long queues,” he added.
Minister Bhuse countered by stating that the 60km rule is not applicable in this case, as the toll booths were established prior to the notification’s implementation. He added that the government would instruct the concessionaire to improve road conditions and basic facilities for commuters.
RTI activist Arun Mane, who has been actively pursuing the issue, pointed out inconsistencies in official communication. “In March 2025, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) had stated in writing that toll collection would continue till 2030. Now, the minister says it’s extended to 2035. Which version is correct?” Mane questioned.
He further argued that the original agreement ended in August 2019, and the new contract signed in February 2020 should have adhered to the post-2008 rules. “There was no valid agreement for nearly six months, yet toll collection continued uninterrupted,” he said.
Mane, who is also one of the organizers of the upcoming protest, emphasized that the community is not against infrastructure funding but demands fairness and legal clarity. “This is about accountability. If rules are being bypassed, citizens deserve answers,” he said.
As tensions mount, the state now faces growing pressure to reassess toll collection practices while ensuring transparency and commuter welfare.
