E-way zip from Noida to Agra in 90 min flat this July

Come July and commuting between Delhi and Agra will be much easier and faster with the opening of the Yamuna Expressway.

A six lane (extendable to eight lanes) 165-km long stretch connecting Delhi-Noida-Greater Noida to Agra promises to slash travel time by half. Travelling to the city of Taj through the expressway would take only 90 minutes. According to officials the speed limit on the expressway would be 100 km per hour for light motor vehicles and 60 km per hour for heavy vehicles.

Preparations, including civil construction, have been completed and the authority is awaiting a nod from the Uttar Pradesh Government. An inspection of the expressway was recently undertaken by RITES (Rail India Technical and Economic Services), the transport consultancy, for submitting a report to the authority. Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) will hold a meeting on June 15 with the State Government to finalise other details before opening the expressway to the public.

A senior authority official said, “A review meeting was held with the officials of RITES to discuss the progress of inspections being carried out to focus on the safety aspects and technical specifications to be implemented on the expressway. RITES has been strictly directed to survey the safety norms on the e-way. Once the survey report is received, officials will hold the meeting with the UP Government to discuss in detail the report submitted by the transport consultancy. Once, the expressway is certified as completely safe, it may be thrown open to public in July.”

The project was conceived in a bid to reduce travel time between the two cities in 2001 but could not start because of change of guard in the State. Finally, the project was put back on track in 2007.

“Although the work has been completed, the authority is examining the road to make sure whether the standards during the construction work have been followed or not. The proposal has been prepared for the consideration of the Government pertaining to the amount of toll tax to be charged and the speed to be allowed on the expressway. The proposal will be presented to the Government during the meeting to be held next week,” said an authority official said.

According to sources, the toll rate for using the expressway could be the highest in the country. If the agreement is reached over the rates proposed by Jaypee, one would have to shell out `365 for a one way journey.

The expressway will have five main toll tax plazas. The first toll plaza is made in Jewar, the second in Mathura and the third one near Agra. In order to connect the adjoining areas, the expressway will have 35 underpasses and one major bridge and 42 minor bridges.

According to the officials from the Jaypee Group, the expressway will provide a fast moving corridor to minimise the travel time and will connect the main townships/commercial centres on the eastern side of Yamuna.

He said adequate arrangements for safety of the commuters would be made.