Former defence personnel to patrol Agra-Lucknow Expressway

Retired army personnel will be deployed to manage traffic and for patrolling purposes on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway, officials said on Friday.

In all, 120 ex-service men would be posted on the five parts of the 302-km expressway, spread through Agra, Shikohabad, Etawah, Kannauj and Lucknow, said Avanish Kumar Awasthi, the Chief Executive officer (CEO) of the UP Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA).

He further said that 10 Innova vehicles would be deployed for security of the commuters on this six-lane expressway. In every vehicle, a dozen retired defence personnel will be stationed in three shifts every day.

Awasthi also said the retired defence personnel were being engaged through the state body for welfare of former defence personnel for a period of two months. After the toll plazas come up on the high-speed road, the work will get transferred to the local police at different points.

Patrol cars would be expected to respond to emergencies like road accidents and inform the "Dial 100" service and ensure that police backup reached the site of accident in time to take forward the rescue operations, an official added.

With many accidents on the expressway taking place due to the sudden appearance of dogs and cattle, the CEO said, the patrol cars had also been asked to ensure that the road was kept clean of animals.

Although big vehicles are banned on the expressway and barriers have been put up, there have been instances when they break the barriers and drive on the road. The retired defence personnel would also have to monitor this, the UPEIDA CEO added.

--IANS

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