Pune, 23 February 2026: A massive traffic gridlock on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway earlier this month has led the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to announce toll refunds worth ₹5.16 crore.
The decision comes after more than one lakh motorists were stranded in a 32-hour-long jam following a gas tanker accident.
The incident occurred on February 3 on the Khopoli stretch of the expressway when a gas tanker overturned, severely disrupting traffic. Vehicles initially moved slowly before coming to a complete standstill.
For several kilometres, motorists remained stuck without access to water, food, or other essentials, making it an exhausting ordeal for commuters.
Following the accident, authorities ordered an immediate halt to toll collection. However, by the time the directive was implemented, toll charges had already been deducted from many FASTag accounts.
An MSRDC official said, “It has been decided to refund the entire amount collected from vehicle owners even after the order to halt toll collection was issued. The refund of ₹5.16 crore will be processed by MSRDC, and the amount will be directly credited to FASTag accounts of affected vehicle owners in the next few days.”
The official further said, “The refund will cover toll collected on both highways. The toll operator has been directed to provide detailed FASTag transaction records. Some transactions were processed automatically before the toll plaza barriers were fully lifted despite instructions to stop collection. All such transactions are being reviewed, and the money will be refunded.”
MSRDC has assured that all affected motorists will receive their refunds soon as the review of transactions is currently underway.
