Rs 1630000000: This is India’s most profitable expressway, took 22 years to build, generates revenue of…, toll rates are expensive, 1 km cost…
GH News August 02, 2025 11:06 AM

India is making steady progress in expanding and evolving its roads highways and expressways to reach the most remote parts of the country. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway is arguably the oldest of its kind and also one of the most significant achievements.
Which is the India’s most profitable expressway? And why?
This expressway took 22 years to build. It is the oldest expressway in India and also possibly the fastest costliest and highest revenue-earning expressway according to a Zee News report. This highway is about more than just being a road; it is about Indias journey towards becoming a modern nation in infrastructure economic development etc.
The Mumbai-Pune expressway is one of the oldest expressways in India. It was constructed during Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayees tenure and was formally opened in 2002. It is to be noted that the whole project took almost 22 years to complete with parts opened to traffic as early as 2000. The greatest characteristic of the expressway is the time it saves. It drastically reduces the lag time of travel from Mumbai to Pune. It has established an important roadway link for commuting and commercial trade marking a significant growth in Indias road infrastructure.
Mumbai-Pune Expressway is the most expensive expressway in the country. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway is Indias first six-lane expressway. It connects Mumbai the financial capital of India to Pune. The expressway is 94.5 kilometers long and is Indias most expensive expressway. The total cost of construction was a whopping Rs 16300 crore.
Besides being the most expensive the Mumbai-Pune Expressway is also one of the highest-revenue-generating roads in the country. After navigating other tolls throughout their journey travelers should ensure there is a substantial charge on their FASTag as the single-trip toll for cars is Rs 336. This is about Rs 3.40 a kilometer. That is an increase of Rs 1 per kilometer from the national average toll of Rs 2.40/km for other expressways. In revenue the Mumbai-Pune Expressway is not only an important route but also the most profitable roadway in India.
Starting from Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai the expressway terminates at Kiwale in Pune. It was built by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). With the opening of the expressway the travel time between Mumbai and Pune went down drastically. In the past it took proximity to 3 hours to travel between the two cities and now it only takes 1 hour! The speed limit on the expressway is 100 km/h. According to the IRB Infrastructure Trust the Mumbai-Pune Expressway achieved its highest toll amount in December 2024 generating a massive Rs 163 crore in revenue that month alone underlining its importance as one of India’s busiest and most profitable expressways.