Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav today ‘virtually’ inaugurated the 165-km Yamuna Expressway, which would cut by half the travel time between National Capital Region (NCR) and Agra.
The mega infrastructure project, which took about 10 years from conceptualisation to completion, has entailed investment of Rs 12,000 crore by concessionaire Jaypee Infratech.
Yamuna Expressway Project was estimated at Rs 3,000 crore when it was first conceptualised in 2002. However, the cost escalated over the years due to several delays and issues of land acquisition and compensation. A group of farmers are still agitating over such issues.
Addressing a function here after inaugurating the expressway over teleconferencing, Yadav asked the concessionaire to complete the work on the service lanes flanking the main tracks for the benefit of local populace.
Reiterating his priority towards improving infrastructure facilities for faster economic growth, he said there was need for more such expressways in UP.
The state government had given its approval for toll tax of Rs 2.10 per km for cars. A round-trip in single day would cost around Rs 510. The speed limit for cars and heavy vehicles had been fixed at 100 km and 60 km respectively. However, the motorists have been announced free ride till August 15.
The 6-lane expressway was conceived to provide faster surface connectivity between NCR and Agra and to relieve the heavily congested NH-2. It was also aimed at opening up avenues for industrial and urban development and providing convergence to tourism and allied industries.
Approximately 1,182 villages in 6 districts viz. Gautam Budh Nagar, Bulandshahar, Aligarh, Hatras, Mathura and Agra were notified under Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA).
Besides, 133 villages between river Yamuna and Grand Trunk (GT) Road were also notified under YEIDA for peripheral industrial and tourism development adjacent to Greater Noida.
Meanwhile, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) MP Jayant Chaudhary has written to Yadav expressing concern over resentment brewing among farmers and landowners due to incomplete works along the expressway.
He noted the toll tax was quite high, while the side fences were not high enough to prevent people and cattle from straying to the highway; as such it was prone to accidents.
Chaudhary further demanded the cases lodged against farmers during the previous regime over land acquisition protests should be withdrawn.
