India, April 27 -- Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday announced that no additional toll would be levied for using the Pune-Mumbai Missing Link project, and that existing toll rates at the Khalapur toll plaza would remain unchanged. The project is set to be inaugurated on Maharashtra Day on May 1.

Shinde said the decision was taken to ensure that commuters benefited from faster connectivity without added financial burden. "The objective of the project is to reduce travel stress and improve connectivity, not increase costs for commuters," he said.

The government will adopt a phased approach to the use of the new stretch. "For the first six months, cars, light vehicles and buses will be prioritised on this route," sa...