Bandra-Worli Sea Link toll rates to rise from 1st April

The toll rates for the Bandra-Worli Sea Link will be increased w.e.f 1st April 2018. While this may sound as a joke if someone conveys it, referring to the date, the fact is that the government of Maharashtra has decided to increase toll rates. The irony also is that a one way commute on the Sea Link will cost higher than a litre of diesel. This increase is a real downer for those who regularly commute on this bridge.

The Public Works Department has issued a notification which mentions that light motor vehicles such having carriage capacity up to twelve passengers, excluding driver, using the Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link better known as the Bandra-Worli Sea Link will have to pay ₹70 for a single trip and ₹105 for a return trip. This means that there is an increase of ₹ 10 and ₹ 15 respectively  for such trips, for passenger cars.

Regular commuters will have to shell out more for a daily pass rates as well, which will now increase by ₹ 25, bringing it to ₹ 175 instead of the earlier ₹ 150 for a single day.

The toll fare for light commercial vehicles, heavy vehicles, mini bus etc. have also been raised. Single trips for LCVs will cost ₹110, while a return journey will be ₹165. Heavy vehicles including trucks and buses will have to pay ₹145 for a single trip, while it will cost ₹ 215 for a return trip. For mini bus etc., the daily pass rate is ₹275 and for heavy vehicles it is ₹360.

 The government of Maharashtra has declared that these toll rates will come in effect from 1st April, 2018 and will be valid upto 31st March, 2021.

For those who commute daily, there is a monthly pass available. The rates of these passes also have been increased to ₹ 3,500 for passenger cars, ₹5,500 for mini buses and LCVs, and ₹ 7,250 for heavy vehicles. These passes are valid for a month.

While it has been promised by the Government that toll taxes across the country would be waived off, this comes as a surprise that the toll rates are being increased. The Bandra World Sea Link or Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link, is one of the finest sea bridges in the world.