By Apurva Bhatt

For the past two weeks there were rumours that the state government won’t be charging toll from private vehicles, but these are just rumours. However the fact is from the midnight of March 31, 2015, Mumbaikars will have to shell out more for using the Bandra-Worli sea link.

While the one-way toll will be Rs 60 against the existing Rs 55, the two-way (return pass) ticket will cost Rs 90 against earlier Rs 82.50. Motorists are unhappy on hearing this, “Why should they increase toll. They should decrease it to get more cars using it,” says Kaustubh Patankar, a sea link commuter.

The increase, said an official, was a regular tri-annual hike limited only to the sea link and was in no way connected with other five toll booths on the fringes of the city. A monthly pass of Rs 2,750 for each car will now cost Rs 3,000. "If one goes by trips, the present pass for 50 trips costs Rs 2,475 which will then become Rs 2,700. For a pass of 100 trips the charge will be Rs 4,800 against the existing Rs 4,400," sources added.