Driving an electric car in Mumbai just got more attractive. The Maharashtra government has decided to make the famous Bandra-Worli Sea Link toll-free for electric vehicles, according to HindustanTimes. This big change is part of the state’s new Electric Vehicle Policy 2025, which aims to encourage more people to use clean transportation.
Which Roads Will Be Free for Electric Cars?
The toll waiver doesn’t stop at just one bridge. Your electric vehicle can now travel without paying tolls on several important roads:
- Bandra-Worli Sea Link (connecting two parts of Mumbai)
- Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway
- Mumbai-Pune Expressway
- Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (also called Atal Setu)
Electric vehicles will be eligible for a 50% reduction in toll fees on state-operated roads. A transport department officer, speaking anonymously, said: “After we exempted EVs from toll on the key expressways, there was a demand for an exemption on the BWSL too. It has been in-principle approved by the government and announcement is expected to be made soon.”
How Much Money Will This Save Drivers?
Currently, about 8% of the 60,000 vehicles using the sea link daily are electric, according to TOI. Here’s what drivers currently pay to cross:
| Vehicle Type | Current Toll Rate |
|---|---|
| Cars and Jeeps | ₹100 |
| Buses | ₹160 |
| Commercial Vehicles | ₹210 |
This toll waiver is part of a bigger plan that will cost the state significant money. Hindustan Times reported that the aggressive incentives and discounts under the new EV policy are estimated to cost ₹1,993 crore over five years. UrbanAcres stated that the toll exemptions, including for the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, will cost approximately ₹3,000 crore over five years.
Why Is The Government Spending So Much Money?
The policy has three main goals that could benefit everyone in the long run:
- Encourage more people to buy and use electric vehicles
- Reduce harmful carbon emissions from regular vehicles
- Make Maharashtra a leading hub for manufacturing electric vehicles
According to HindustanTimes, Maharashtra’s new EV policy aims for a 25% share of electric vehicles by 2030. The Financial Express explained the Maharashtra Government doubled the EV policy outlay from around ₹930 crore to approximately ₹1,995 crore in the 2025 policy.
When Will This Start Happening?
The new policy was approved by the state cabinet on April 29. You can expect the official notification to come out next week. The toll waiver will then be implemented over the next five years.
A steering committee led by the chief secretary will be appointed to make sure the policy is properly implemented. Autocar India mentioned that the new outlay of ₹1,993 crore for the EV Policy 2025 is a 114% increase from the ₹930 crore allocated in the previous 4-year policy which ended on March 31, 2025.
So if you’re thinking about buying an electric vehicle in Maharashtra, your timing couldn’t be better. With toll-free travel on major roads and other benefits, the government is making it easier and cheaper for you to go electric.
