Maharashtra To Shut Down All 22 RTO Border Checkposts, Paving Way for Seamless Transport

Mumbai: In a landmark move that signals a major overhaul in the state’s transport and logistics infrastructure, the Maharashtra government is all set to permanently shut down all 22 Regional Transport Office (RTO) border checkposts. The decision, which aligns with central government directives and follows the nationwide implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), is awaiting final approval from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik confirmed the development, stating that all administrative procedures have been completed and a positive report has been forwarded to the Chief Minister for a final nod. “With the GST regime firmly established and digital tracking technologies in place, the relevance of physical border checkposts has diminished significantly,” Sarnaik said.

Originally established in 1966, these checkposts were designed to monitor commercial vehicle movement, enforce compliance, and collect taxes at state borders. However, with the advent of electronic tax collection, real-time vehicle tracking, and digital enforcement tools, the need for physical monitoring has been largely negated.

The transition will involve dismantling existing infrastructure and transferring all digital systems and assets to the Transport Department. As part of this shift, Adani Road Transport Ltd., which operated the Integrated Check Post (ICP) project, will be compensated with ₹505 crore.

The closure of the checkposts is expected to significantly ease transport bottlenecks across Maharashtra. Experts believe it will reduce traffic congestion at state borders, enhance road safety, eliminate avenues for corruption, and improve the overall ease of doing business.

A committee headed by Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar reviewed the implications of the move and concluded that digital systems are capable of handling inspection duties without delays or human interference. The report highlighted how electronic monitoring could actually enhance compliance while making logistics operations faster and more transparent.

Once implemented, Maharashtra will join 18 other Indian states that have already phased out manual checkposts in favour of technology-driven, paperless systems. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and CM Fadnavis have long advocated for such reforms, citing the need to modernise outdated systems and reduce bureaucratic red tape.

The final go-ahead from the Chief Minister will mark the official end of the state’s border checkpost era—a move that could redefine how goods and vehicles are monitored across Maharashtra.