Pune: Renowned Marathi actress Rujuta Deshmukh has brought attention to a pressing issue by sharing her personal experience of encountering double toll charges while traveling on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Her social media post has sparked discussions about the fairness and transparency of toll collection on this prominent roadway.
In a video shared on various social media platforms, Rujuta Deshmukh candidly expresses her frustration regarding the incident. Having spent nearly 25 years in Mumbai, she frequently travels to Pune to visit her parents and in-laws. This particular journey took her through Lonavala, where she made a necessary stop. Rujuta, along with her family, embarked on the journey to Pune on July 31, only to receive a notification message regarding the toll charges they had incurred.
“At Khalapur toll booth, we were charged Rs 240, and at Talegaon, the toll was Rs 80,” Rujuta explains in the video. However, her dismay was evident when she received further messages upon their return to Mumbai, indicating that they had been charged twice—Rs 240 and Rs 240 again. Disturbed by this anomaly, she filed a formal complaint and submitted the required documents via email. To her disappointment, her efforts garnered no response.
Taking matters into her own hands, Rujuta Deshmukh decided to confront the issue in person. On August 1, she engaged in a conversation with the toll gate manager to gain clarity on the situation. “I explained our route, mentioning that we always exit at Lonavala to enter the expressway. The manager justified the double toll charges by stating that Mumbai to Lonavala costs Rs 240, and another Rs 240 is charged for Lonavala to Pune,” she shared.
Rujuta continued, “It was surprising to learn that this practice of double toll charging has been in place since the introduction of the Fast Tag system two years ago. Despite having previously used Fast Tag on my trips to Pune, I had never faced such charges. Even my written complaint went unanswered.”
In a bid to draw attention to this issue, Rujuta Deshmukh reached out to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and the state government through her Instagram post. Her aim was to highlight the problem she faced and to seek a resolution for not only herself but also for other travelers navigating the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
As of now, the authorities have yet to release an official response regarding Rujuta’s complaint. However, her proactive approach to bringing awareness to this issue has ignited discussions about the transparency and fairness of toll collection on this critical expressway.
