Free ride on Yamuna Expressway till Aug 15

Jaypee Infratech, the developers of the 165-km Yamuna Expressway connecting Greater Noida with Agra, Thursday said there would be no toll-tax till Aug 15.

The freeway, which promises to reduce travel time between New Delhi and Agra, home to the Taj Mahal by nearly half at two-and-a-half hours, was formally inaugurated by way of a videoconference from here Thursday by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

Jaypee group deputy chairman Manoj Gaur said given the season of Ramzaan, Janmaasthami and Independence Day, his group had decided to give motorists on the expressway a six-day free ride. The state government has approved a toll tax of Rs.2.10 per km for cars.

Late Wednesday, the state government had notified the toll based on the recommendation of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority at Rs 2.10 per km on cars and jeeps, Rs.6.60 on busses and trucks, Rs.3.23 on minis and Rs.10.10 on heavy vehicles.

Asked to comment if the toll tax was not on the higher side, Yadav said that it was up to the developers to decide the rates, as people will travel less if they keep it high.