A knife-wielding maniac with a history of mental illness and 53 prior arrests is wanted in connection with at least two stabbings in the subway this week.

The alleged madman accused of separately stabbing two straphangers in the subway last week has been arrested — carrying the “large knife’’ he allegedly used in the violence, police and sources said Sunday.

The New York City tolling plan, the first of its kind in the country, finally debuted after being halted just weeks before its original start date last summer. Officials started it on a Sunday to work out the kinks before rush hour traffic Monday morning.