Pune, 18 December 2025: Passengers travelling on a Shivneri bus from Mumbai to Pune were stuck for nearly an hour at the Talegaon toll plaza on Wednesday night after the bus’s FASTag had insufficient balance.
The incident caused significant inconvenience and mental distress to the passengers, including a six-month pregnant woman.
According to passengers, the e-Shivneri bus (MH 12 VF 5207) departed from Dadar, Mumbai, at around 5 pm and was heading towards Pune via Thane. Around 9:30 pm, the bus reached the Talegaon toll plaza, where toll collection could not be completed due to a lack of balance in the FASTag linked to the bus.
Toll plaza staff refused to allow the bus to proceed unless the toll amount was paid. As a result, passengers were forced to remain seated inside the bus for nearly an hour. Despite repeated inquiries, the bus driver was unable to resolve the issue and attempts to contact depot officials reportedly failed.
With no assistance forthcoming, frustrated passengers eventually collected the money among themselves and paid the toll amount of around ₹900. The bus was allowed to resume its journey towards Pune at around 10:30 pm.
Passengers expressed strong dissatisfaction over the incident, calling it a serious lapse in responsibility. One woman passenger said that travellers pay for their tickets expecting a smooth journey, and such negligence by authorities causes unnecessary stress.
She added that attempts to contact depot officials went unanswered and said she plans to file a complaint with the consumer forum.
The incident has raised questions about accountability and preparedness in public transport services, especially when passenger safety and comfort are at stake.