No more toll queues on Bandra-Worli sea link

In a city besieged with long traffic queues, the latest initiative by the transport authorities will come as a relief to motorists.

New beginnings: A motorist displays the prepaid sticker during the inauguration of the electronic payment system on the Bandra-Worli sea link yesterday. Pic/Suresh K Ku00a0

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and the toll-collecting agency Mumbai Entry Point Limited (MEPL) introduced an electronic-toll payment system on Bandra-Worli Sea Link yesterday.

The decision to adopt this system comes after motorists using the sea link have been complaining that they waste precious time during peak hours waiting at toll points. Now, each time you pass through the toll point, the toll will be deducted from your prepaid toll account using advanced Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology.

"The main reason behind introducing this technology was not only to help motorists in saving time, but it will also help in avoiding long queues at the toll plazas. We also have plans to install the same technology at four other entry points in the city," said Jaidatt Kshirsagar, chairman and MSRDC minister.

Presently, only two lanes - one going towards Worli and one coming towards Bandra - will be fitted with the RFID technology.

Motorists wanting to use this system will have to purchase a sticker by paying Rs 100 at the toll plaza and display it on the windscreen of the car.
They have the option to recharge their account by paying a prepaid amount, and every time the vehicle enters the special lane a sensor scans the sticker and the automatic doors open.

Every trip the vehicle makes via the sea link, the toll amount will be deducted.

"Motorists using the pre-paid system will also get an SMS alert updating them on the balance amount in their prepaid account. This technology will help motorist save a huge amount of time," said MSRDC Vice Chairman Bipin Srimali.

Kshirsagar added that MSRDC would also install an electronic display system at 27 new toll plazas where motorists will see the amount of toll that has been collected since the opening of the plaza.u00a0