Thread: Delhi to Agra in less than 2 hours - Yamuna expressway opens on August 9

Source: The Times of India



Greater Noida: Conceived way back in 2001, Yamuna Expressway will finally be thrown open to the public on August 9. The 165km expressway will be inaugurated by chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, the CM’s office told the developer, Jaypee Group, on Wednesday.

The Rs 11,000crore expressway — the country’s longest six-laned access-controlled stretch— which has missed multiple deadlines, recently got the UP government’s approval. According to sources, the chief minister will throw open the expressway by pressing the button from Lucknow. “Due to prior engagements, the CM cannot make it to Greater Noida for the inauguration ceremony. He will do the honours from Lucknow,” an official said.

Meanwhile, the Jaypee Group has planned a grand affair for the opening, the details of which will be announced soon. Sources also said that three to four ministers from the state government and several dignitaries would be attending the inaugural function.

Once operational, the highspeed expressway will connect Greater Noida with Agra slashing the travel time between the two locations from four hours to less than 100 minutes. Last month, the state government had already notified the speed limit of 100 kmph for cars and 60 kmph for heavy vehicles.

According to a source, the proposed toll fee to be charged on the expressway has been vetted by the state law and finance departments. The final approval from the chief minister’s office is expected to come on Friday well before the expressway is officially declared open. “The CM’s office has conveyed to us that we will receive a formal communication about the toll on August 3,” said an official from the Jaypee Group.

Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) has proposed that the toll tax on light vehicles like cars and jeeps be fixed at Rs 2.10 per km, for medium heavy vehicles like minibuses at Rs 3.25 and for buses and trucks at Rs 6.60. For heavy vehicles, the proposed figure is Rs10.10 per km and for big heavy vehicles it is Rs 12.95 per km. The tax would be collected by the concessionaire for 36 years. At present, there are three toll tax plazas along the expressway — at Jewar, Mathura and Agra.

The expressway has six interchanges, 70 vehicular underpasses, 41 minor bridges, 76 cart track underpasses and 183 culverts. There are SOS booths along the route besides a toll free helpline. To ensure commuters’ safety, CCTV cameras have been installed at regular intervals.

The project has witnessed many delays since it was conceived during the Mayawati regime in 2001. It was originally named Taj Expressway but the project couldn’t take off because of a government change in 2003. The project was revived in 2007 and renamed Yamuna Expressway.


p.s.: Though there is no official word on it, but it seems that the two-wheelers are not allowed on the Yamuna expressway, which is kind of sad.

@SunilG : Lets do a breakfast ride, I have not seen the expressway yet, minus some of the photographs on other sites. Its indeed will be helpful for many of Delhi and Agra riders

Originally Posted by prateek2210

@SunilG : Lets do a breakfast ride, I have not seen the expressway yet, minus some of the photographs on other sites. Its indeed will be helpful for many of Delhi and Agra riders

No rides only drives i guess

Its already opened i guess - check this out-
Yamuna Expressway - To be opened for public in August 2012 !!! - Page 4 - Team-BHP

Edit -
Here are some more pics of the expressway.

http://www.parichowk.com/yamuna-expressway-images.aspx

WTF..., Two wheeler are not allowed...I hope it is gonna happen like same as Delhi-gurgaon expressways, where two wheeler's are not allowed officially, Still we can take them....

A hopeless expressway...

As per this image it shows a two - wheeler pic on the toll rate board, so I guess 2 wheelers might be allowed

two wheelers are allowed and the expressway is in use already(not opened officially)
source: read this in times of india and there was a report on ndtv a few days back where it said how accident prone the expressway is

Originally Posted by prateek2210

As per this image it shows a two - wheeler pic on the toll rate board, so I guess 2 wheelers might be allowed

Yes...., And the toll tax shows 50 rs...

Two wheelers allowed and max speed has been set at 70 kmph!!!

Originally Posted by sunilg

Though there is no official word on it, but it seems that the two-wheelers are not allowed on the Yamuna expressway, which is kind of sad.

I really hope this doesnot happens.

Originally Posted by prateek2210

@SunilG : Lets do a breakfast ride, I have not seen the expressway yet, minus some of the photographs on other sites. Its indeed will be helpful for many of Delhi and Agra riders

Fanatastic idea.

Originally Posted by itsmevini123

Yes...., And the toll tax shows 50 rs...

I guess this is nominal for such great road. Have heard good about the expressway qualitywise.

Originally Posted by The Monk

Two wheelers allowed and max speed has been set at 70 kmph!!!

Its UP man, but who follows the actual rules in UP?

two-wheelers not allowed on expressways is a very new trend catching-in in india. a very sad thing indeed. this is a very bad thing and we should do something to stop it. its like we bikers are outcast or inferior ppl. powerful ppl, rich people who make the laws are not bikers and they travel by cars and think two wheelers are for poor ppl.

this is a really sad mentality and sad thinking that is setting in ...in majority of indians that
1) two wheelers are for poor only.
2) two wheelers are always ridden recklessly.
3) most of the accidents are caused because of two wheelers.

all the above are actually false statements.

i think we are the largest biking community in india, if i am not wrong, and if we cant make ourselves heard, if we cant raise our voice, nobody can.

we should raise a campaigne to change this mindset of ppl. and maybe rope in all two wheeler manufacturers also to add some corporate might.