From 1 April 2025, all drivers in Mumbai will have to pay tolls using FASTag at every toll plaza. This is in line with Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation’s (MSRDC) announcement some time ago regarding a FASTag-only system to make toll payments, which would facilitate quicker and easier passage of vehicles through toll gates. But that is not the key news. The key news is that the toll on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway will rise by three percent from 1 April 2025. This hike is expected to dig a hole of up to INR 10 in every passenger car owner every time he gets on the respective expressway. 
Fully operationalised in April 2002, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway – first of its kind in India – was built on a BOT basis. It cost more than INR 16.3 billion to complete, according to a report found on the Magicbricks.com website dated 5 February 2025. An analysis in 1994 estimated the cost to be INR 11.46 billion. 
In its affidavit in response to a PIL filed in the Bombay High Court in 2019 citing a CAG report, MSRDC – the Maharashtra state’s special vehicle that built the respective expressway – mentioned that the CAG failed to consider aspects such as traffic flow in initial years, fluctuation in interest and value of money at the time when the first contract was awarded in 2004. 
After taking into consideration the internal rate of return at 16 percent, the total amount recoverable in 2021 was INR 223.7 billion (22,370 crore), MSRDC is known to have stated in its affidavit filed by Kamlakar Phand, Chief General Manager, MSRDC, justifying the extension of contract to collect toll.  
Known as India’s highest toll collecting expressway and also the costliest, the toll collection across the nine gates of the expressway in FY2022-23 was an estimated INR 480.28 billion (48,028.22 crore). In FY2023-24, it was an estimated INR 648.09 billion (64,809.86 crore), a 35 percent increase from the previous year. The average daily collection of around INR 1.5 billion in FY2023-24 in the respective fiscal marked an all-time high. 
But then it is not just the Mumbai-Pune Expressway that will see a hike in toll tax, driving in turn the cost of consumables, essential goods etc., up, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will also increase the toll tax on national highways and expressways that it governs, effective 1 April 2025, mention sources. 
This hike will also touch two-wheelers as stretches such as the Delhi-Lucknow expressway are known to charge toll from that class of vehicles as well. The toll tax increase, sources say, will be in line with the tradition to yearly revise the charges to account for changes in the wholesale price index (CPI)-based inflation. 
Not stopping there and not taking into account the poor quality as well as sheer unsafe stretches of key highways such as the one connecting Pune with Belgaum, which is said to have been under construction for many-many years now, or the one that connects Mumbai with Goa, motorists of all class of vehicles, two-wheelers included, should brace themselves to see their pockets burn a bigger hole effective 1 March 2025 as road fines increase. 
Not supposed to complain about bad road surface, unsafe road design, crater-like patches or the suddenly appearing speed humps and simply pay the roll tax, motorists found to be under the influence of alcohol will have to pay a fine of INR 10,000 and/or face a six months term in prison for the first offence. Repeat offenders will have to pay INR 15,000 and may face up to 2 years in prison.
Those riding without helmets will have to pay INR 1,000 (earlier it was INR 100) and face license suspension for three months. Failing to wear a seat belt, the fine will be INR 1,000. 
Found talking on the phone while driving, the fine will be INR 5,000. Found driving without a valid driving license, the fine will be INR 5,000. Riding triple seat on a two-wheeler, the fine will now be INR 1,000. Sans a valid insurance (insurance attracts 18 percent GST whereas buying a vehicle amounts to between 28 to 50 percent of the price being taxes!), the fine will now be INR 2,000. Besides three months of imprisonment and community service, a repeat offence will see the fine double to INR 4,000. 
The absence of pollution certificate will attract a fine of INR 10,000 along with a prison sentence of six months and community service. Dangerous driving and over speeding with attract a fine of INR 5,000 each here after. Blocking of emergency vehicles will lead to a fine of INR 10,000. Overloading of commercial vehicles will lead to a fine of INR 20,000. 
Jumping a red signal will attract a fine of INR 5,000. Earlier it was INR 500. Offence committed by juveniles behind the wheel or handlebar will lead to a fine of INR 25,000 rather than INR 2,500. A prison sentence of three years and cancelation of vehicle registration for a year besides ineligibility to get a driving license till the age of 25 will be there too. 

Image for representative purpose only.

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The ADAS Show, touted as one of India’s major automotive future mobility events, has been rescheduled to 12 February 2026 from the originally planned 12 December 2025.

The postponement has been due to the prolonged heavy rains in the Pune region, which have hampered the completion of the ADAS TEST CITY infrastructure.

The event will be held at the ADAS TEST CITY within ARAI’s Mobility Research Centre in Takwe, Pune, which is a proving ground designed for the validation of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicles. Organisers noted that achieving the required precision for the track surface and infrastructure before December 2025 was not possible despite continuous effort.

The show, organised by Aayera, will feature live ADAS testing demonstrations by ARAI using its instrumentation. The event will also see automakers, Tier-1 suppliers and technology innovators showcase their solutions at India’s first ADAS smart city.

Syed Fareed Ahmed, Director, Aayera, said, “This extended timeline opens doors for expanded collaborations with global ADAS and autonomous technology companies, offering a larger and more robust platform for live track demonstrations, product launches and international partnerships.”

What’s more, Israel-based Foresight Automotive has also confirmed its participation at the event, where it showcases its solutions designed to provide accurate, real-time detection in complex environments for both commercial and passenger vehicles.

It will present its perception capabilities using live camera streams from both visible-light and thermal cameras. The demonstration will focus on generating depth maps and high-density 3D point clouds, which supply detailed spatial information to enhance obstacle detection and segmentation.

The company states its scalable platform is built specifically for India’s diverse conditions, from heavy urban congestion to rural roads and varying weather, supporting current Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) needs while enabling future vehicle automation.

Annat Himmel, Vice-President of Research and Development, Foresight, will participate in a panel discussion titled ‘ADAS for the Indian Market – From Premium to Mass Adoption’ on 12 February 2026.

Oren Bar-On, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Foresight Automotive, said: “ADAS Test City provides an important platform to showcase how advanced perception technology can enhance road safety in India. We are excited to demonstrate how our 3D perception solutions not only support today’s ADAS capabilities but also lay the groundwork for the next generation of autonomous vehicles, unlocking safer and smarter mobility for the future. Foresight looks forward to strengthening collaborations with Indian OEMs, Tier-One suppliers, and technology partners to support India’s growing ADAS ecosystem.”

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced that 100 members of its workforce will travel to Japan to participate in the Global Skill-Up Training (GST) program at Toyota Motor Corporation.

The initiative aligns with the Government of India’s Skill India Mission and the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP), a framework between the Governments of India and Japan for skill development and talent exchange.

The Global Skill-Up Training program in Japan is an 11-month program, combining classroom sessions with on-the-job training. It focuses on Toyota’s core principles, while also preparing trainees with Japanese language, culture and civic responsibility to prepare for global integration.

The automaker, an NSDC-approved Sending Organisation, has facilitated the overseas training of over 1,000 youth to countries including Japan, Jordan, Qatar and Slovakia.

G Shankara, Executive Vice-President, Finance and Administration, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “We at Toyota Kirloskar Motor are deeply committed to nurturing globally competitive talent from India. The Global Skill Up Training Program is more than just a learning opportunity; it is a journey to experience excellence, discipline, innovation, and respect on a global stage. Through this initiative, we aim to empower our youth with world class technical expertise and the values that define Toyota’s culture, while contributing to the Government of India’s Skill India vision. Together, we aspire to make India a global hub for people, solutions, and automobiles, and together we will make that vision a reality.”

Dr. Sharanaprakash Rudrappa Patil, Minister for Skill Development, Government of Karnataka, said, “We are proud to see our youth getting access to this global opportunity with Toyota. This program aligns strongly with our vision to position Karnataka as a hub for advanced skills while empowering rural talent to access world-class career opportunities.”

Sonal Mishra, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, said, “The collaboration between MSDE and Toyota under the TITP framework represents India’s growing role as a trusted global source of highly skilled professionals. This international apprenticeship opportunity will accelerate India’s contribution to global value chains and enable our youth to build future-ready careers.”

Till date, Toyota Kirloskar Motor has trained and empowered over 140,000 youth across India through its multi-tier skilling initiatives, including the Toyota Technical Training Institute (TTTI) model.

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Uber for Business, the enterprise division of Uber, has appointed Rituraj Chaturmohta as the Senior Country Manager for India & South Asia.

In his new role, Chaturmohta will lead the division’s growth strategy, focusing on strengthening partnerships with organisations, enhancing enterprise mobility solutions and driving innovation in corporate travel and employee transportation.

Chaturmohta joins Uber with experience in marketplace and platform businesses. He previously served as Head of Sales and Business Development at Airbnb.

Eric Lee, Regional General Manager and Head of Uber for Business - APAC, said, “We are delighted to have Rituraj join our leadership team to drive Uber for Business’ growth and partnerships in India and South Asia. His experience in building and scaling platform businesses, combined with his understanding of the Indian market will be instrumental in strengthening our enterprise offering.”

Rituraj Chaturmohta, Senior Country Manager, Uber for Business, India and South Asia, said, “I am thrilled to join Uber for Business to lead India and South Asia, one of Uber’s most dynamic growth markets. Uber for Business is reimagining how businesses move - with scale, sustainability, and customer centricity at the core. My focus is to deepen Uber’s relationships with our business clients, build tailored mobility solutions that drive measurable ROI, and make Uber for Business a growth partner for every company operating in this region.”

Uber for Business manages travel, meals, and commute programmes for over 200,000 organisations worldwide. In India, the division currently assists over 8,000 organisations with solutions for business travel, daily commutesand employee shift transportation.

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The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) has assessed the draft of the 2030 Charging Infrastructure Master Plan, calling for a coherent, cross-departmental 'Overall Charging Strategy' to accelerate the expansion of charging infrastructure.

Hildegard Muller, President, VDA, said, “In order to further accelerate the expansion of charging infrastructure for vehicles, increase user-friendliness and ensure charging prices, a cross-departmental 'Overall Charging Strategy' is necessary. Against this background, the VDA fundamentally assesses the draft of the 2030 Charging Infrastructure Master Plan as good.”

The VDA supports the draft's proposals to increase e-mobility through streamlined approval procedures, grid expansion, charging prices through transparency and a focus on charging infrastructure for trucks and buses on highways and at depots.

However, the association outlined areas requiring work:

• Multi-Unit Buildings: The VDA demands that the EU Building Directive requirements for charging infrastructure at parking spaces be implemented into law without delay. It stressed that the pooling of charging points across locations, as mentioned in the draft, would weaken EU requirements and must be rejected.
• Commercial Vehicles: While welcoming the commitment to expand the charging network for trucks, the VDA noted that the still inadequate availability of charging points represents an obstacle to the ramp-up of commercial vehicles and buses. It also stated that the draft fails to address the segment of light vehicles, demanding measures to support the development of charging infrastructure in urban areas.
• Power Grids and Taxation: The VDA highlighted that Germany's power grids are not equipped for the energy transition. It called for the expansion to be oriented towards demand and for a uniform, digital process for grid connection applications. Furthermore, the VDA demands that electricity tax, network charges and concession fees be eliminated when energy is fed back into the supply network (vehicle-to-grid) to establish bidirectional charging.
• Charging Prices: The VDA reiterated that charging prices are necessary for the market ramp-up of e-mobility. It called for the electricity tax for e-mobility to be reduced to make charging electricity less expensive, noting that the draft 'falls short of the coalition agreement' on this point.

The VDA also urged the government to advocate for targets in the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) at the level, stating that the AFIR targets are not to the market ramp-up of e-mobility in Europe.

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