Pune: The relocation of the Urse toll plaza on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway has brought relief to the persistent traffic congestion, but it has also created new challenges for bus passengers. 

The toll plaza, which has been shifted 2 kilometers towards Mumbai, has doubled its number of toll booths from 14 to 28 on each side, significantly reducing the wait times for vehicles.

The Pune-Mumbai Expressway, completed in 2000, originally had a low volume of traffic, and the 14 toll booths at the Urse plaza were sufficient. However, in the last decade, the number of vehicles has doubled, leading to frequent traffic jams as vehicles queued to pay tolls at the Urse plaza. 

To address this issue, the Maharashtra Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) approved the relocation of the toll plaza and the addition of new toll booths to ease the congestion.

The relocation and expansion work, which began last year, has now been completed, and the old toll plaza has been decommissioned. With 28 toll booths now operational at the new location, traffic congestion has effectively been eliminated, and vehicles can pass through without delays.

Despite these improvements, bus passengers are facing challenges. The old Urse toll plaza was a common stop for passengers traveling to Mumbai, particularly those from nearby areas such as Maval. 

The location was equipped with essential facilities like shelters, restrooms, and clean drinking water, provided by IRB Infrastructure. However, since the toll plaza was moved, buses are less likely to stop at the previous location, leaving passengers waiting longer and increasing inconvenience.

"We have successfully addressed the issue of traffic congestion by doubling the number of toll booths at the new toll plaza, eliminating long queues," said David Arun Kumar Joshua, Executive Director of Security at IRB Infrastructure.

On the other hand, local residents like Subhash Dhamankar have called for the reinstatement of bus stop facilities at the old toll plaza. "Since last week, there has been a decrease in the number of passengers waiting here. MSRDC should restore the bus stop services at the old Urse toll plaza for the convenience of travelers," he said.

The MSRDC and IRB Infrastructure are now facing demands to provide better facilities for commuters while continuing to maintain the smooth flow of traffic on the expressway.