September 25, 2025: Earlier this month, on September 9, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who also holds the portfolios of Urban Development and Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), decided to relocate the Dahisar toll naka 2 kilometres away, near Versova Bridge, in response to rising vehicular congestion.
Following this, MSRDC’s Joint Managing Director, Manoj Jindal, has written to the Chairman of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), seeking permission to move the toll post beyond Versova Bridge, within the jurisdiction of the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC). Hindustan Times has obtained a copy of the letter dated September 22. Currently, the Dahisar toll naka is situated on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad National Highway and falls under NHAI’s jurisdiction, requiring their approval for any relocation.
The decision has faced opposition from major political parties, including the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, within the Mira-Bhayandar civic limits. Critics argue that moving the toll would inconvenience motorists commuting to and from Thane, as the additional toll post would prolong journey times. Concerns were also raised over commercial, heavy, and non-passenger vehicles, with the levy potentially increasing the cost of goods arriving in Mira-Bhayandar. Observers have noted that the move may carry political undertones, as the assembly constituency of Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik includes parts of Mira-Bhayandar.
In the letter, MSRDC highlighted persistent traffic congestion complaints from residents as a key reason for the relocation. The authority also cited the construction of the Mumbai Metro Line 9 by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), as a metro station is planned adjacent to the current Dahisar toll plaza. The relocation is intended to ease traffic flow, reduce congestion near the upcoming metro station, and ensure smoother vehicular movement along this heavily used stretch of the national highway.
The matter is now pending NHAI’s approval, and authorities have indicated that further consultations will take place with local civic bodies before any final decision is implemented.
Source: Hindustan Times
