Overview
- The three-day toll waiver, which began Tuesday, runs through Thursday for pilgrims traveling the Mumbai–Pune Expressway to the Ekvira Devi Temple near Lonavala.
- Devotees get the waiver only after showing a consent letter from MP Suresh Mhatre’s office at toll booths.
- NCP MP Suresh Mhatre said he arranged the concession by coordinating with the expressway toll administration.
- Pune district officials ordered diversions from March 24 to midnight March 26, sending cars from Karla Phata to set parking at Aspen Hotel, Lajwanti College, and Dutta Prasanna, and restricting heavy vehicles on stretches near Vadgaon Phata and Kusgaon Budruk.
- The Maval administration and rural police are using CCTV, moving roadside stalls off main routes, and banning firecrackers on the hill to improve safety, while a separate expressway “missing link” is about 98% complete with a likely opening around May 1 pending checks.