Solapur (Maharashtra), 11 September —
The toll at the Ichgaon plaza on the Sangli–Solapur section of NH-166 has been revised upward, becoming the second increase this year and part of a nearly 40% rise in charges since tolling began on the corridor in 2022. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) project office in Solapur said the revision follows the prescribed six-monthly review cycle.
Under the new schedule, one-way tolls at Ichgaon are set as follows:
- Cars and light vehicles: ₹105
- Buses: ₹170
- Trucks: ₹355
- Heavy vehicles: ₹555
- Multi-axle vehicles: ₹675
"Toll rates are revised once every six months. Various factors are taken into consideration before the revision is implemented," said Swapnil Kasar, project director, NHAI Solapur, in a statement to the press.
How tolling is applied on the Sangli–Solapur stretch
The Sangli–Solapur corridor is tolled at three plazas along the 203 km route. Motorists travelling the full stretch encounter toll points at:
- Borgaon (Sangli district) — toll levied for 78 km
- Ankadhal (Solapur district) — toll levied for 60 km
- Ichgaon (Solapur district) — toll levied for 78 km
Since toll collection commenced in 2022, cumulative increases across these plazas amount to almost 40%, according to reporting on the revision. The Ichgaon increase announced this week is about 4.5% higher than the rates introduced six months earlier.
| Item | Latest Ichgaon toll |
|---|---|
| Cars & light vehicles (one-way) | ₹105 |
| Buses (one-way) | ₹170 |
| Trucks (one-way) | ₹355 |
| Heavy vehicles (one-way) | ₹555 |
| Multi-axle vehicles (one-way) | ₹675 |
Local response and concessions
The route is heavily used by passengers travelling between Sangli and Solapur — including those on religious visits — and regular commuters have criticised the frequency of rate revisions. One frequent traveller reported paying around ₹320 in toll for a single journey during a recent trip between Kolhapur and Dharashiv (Osmanabad), saying that fuel savings from the improved highway are being offset by rising tolls.
Meanwhile, concession programmes remain in place at the plazas. According to the toll operator, discounts include a 25% reduction for return trips completed within a day and a 33% concession for monthly pass holders. Non-commercial vehicle owners residing within a 20 km radius of a toll plaza are eligible for a monthly pass; the fee for such a pass at the Ichgaon area has been raised to ₹360, from ₹340 earlier and ₹315 when tolling began in 2022.
Implications for Solapur commuters and goods movement
For Solapur residents and local businesses, repeated toll hikes raise travel and transport costs on a corridor that is important for passenger movement and freight. Transporters moving goods to and from Solapur and neighbouring districts will face higher per-trip charges; passengers using the route for work, education or pilgrimage may see household travel costs rise.
NHAI officials indicated the increase was implemented in line with guidelines and periodic reviews; the toll operator cited the concessionary schemes that seek to soften the burden on frequent and local users. Observers and regular commuters say the frequency of revisions — twice in the current year — is a matter of concern and called for a longer interval between changes.
Officials at the NHAI project office in Solapur provided the figures and rationale for the revision, while users' reactions were reported from the field.
Further adjustments to toll schedules on this corridor will follow the same semi-annual review process unless policy changes are announced by the authority concerned.
