Revision as of 06:36, 16 November 2015

Yamuna e-way toll to Jewar, Mathura and Agra, 2014-2015 and 2015-2016; Graphic courtesy: The Times of India

Toll tax: Delhi to Jewar, Mathura and Agra

The Times of India, Apr 03 2015

Yamuna e-way toll to Agra up by Rs 30

Vandana Keelor

Motorists using the Yamuna expressway will now have to shell out more money towards toll tax. In the second rate revision in three months, the toll for cars for a one-way trip to Agra from Greater Noida has gone up by Rs 30 from April 1. However, the concessionaire said this was technically not a toll hike, but the withdrawal of a discount offered to vehicles since 2012, when it was opened for traffic.

The new toll rate for cars is Rs 360 (up by Rs 30) while it is Rs 175 (up by Rs 10) for twowheelers for a one-way trip to Agra from Greater Noida. For buses and trucks, there is no change in the rate, which continues to stand at Rs 1150.

Tax for mini-buses and other light commercial vehicles (LCVs) has also been hiked by Rs 15 to Rs 565. The rate for multi-axle vehicles is unchanged at Rs 1,765. But, for oversized or multi-axle vehicles, it is Rs 2,250.

Officials of Jaypee Infratech said the toll fee rise re flects a hike ranging from 3% to 20%, and the revision has been approved by the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority and notified by state government.

Expressway users will now be charged R 2.20 per km for light vehicles like cars and jeeps, Rs 3.45 for medium heavy vehicles and light commercial vehicles like minibuses, and Rs 7 for buses and trucks. While heavy construction machinery or earth moving equipment will be charged Rs 10.75, multi-axle heavy vehicles will be charged Rs 13.70 instead of Rs 13.75 per km.

The expressway has three toll plazas located at Jewar (38 km), Mathura (94km) and Agra (150km). “Commuters travelling to Jewar are charged toll for 0 to 48km. The rate for this section of expressway has not been raised for twowheelers. For four-wheelers like cars and LCVs, its now Rs 105 and Rs 165 respectively,“ said a Jaypee spokesperson.

He added, “The rates for two-wheelers for the Mathura section (48 to 109km) has also not been enhanced but the fee for four-wheelers is now up by 3.8% to Rs 135.“ Rates for vehicles travelling along the Agra section will have to pay a toll of Rs 60 instead of Rs 50.

2012-15: Accidents on Yamuna e-way

The Times of India, Nov 06 2015

105 died on Yamuna e-way from Jan-Sept  Ftal accidents on the Yamuna Expressway have risen alarmingly despite a slew of road safety campaigns. Between this January and September, 105 people died in 656 accidents on the stretch, an RTI filed by the Agra Development Foundation, an Agra-based social organisation, says. Last year, the number of accidents stood at 771 and deaths at 127, reports Aditya Dev.

Year 2013 saw the most accidents, at 896, in which 118 people died. The RTI reply further says 2,598 accidents and 383 deaths have taken place on the expressway between August 9, 2012 and September 30, 2015. The number of fatal acci dents on the Yamuna Expressway seems to be going up each year, with the slew of campaigns being run on traffic rules and road safety guidelines showing very little or no impact whatsoever.

While the average number of accidents each month (many smaller ones go unreported) has increased substantially, from 64 in 2014 to 73 this year, so have the fatalities.Twelve persons lost their lives per month this year on this dangerous stretch; it was 11 in the previous year, prompting activists to say that the situation is going from bad to worse and better policing and enforcement is urgently needed.

An RTI query filed by Agra Development Foundation, a city-based social organisation, on the matter revealed in an answer that as many as 105 persons lost their lives in 656 accidents between January and September this year, while 127 commuters died in 771 accidents in the 12 months of 2014.

The RTI revealed that 2013 has been the deadliest, with 896 accidents reported. A total of 118 had died that year. KC Jain, ADF secretary , said, “The number of accidents on the e-way has been rising ever since it was opened for public on August 9, 2012.Following the RTI reply we have written to UP CM Akhilesh Yadav seeking his intervention in the matter.“

ADF had filed a PIL in the Allahabad high court on the rising number of accidents along the 165 km-long e-way connecting Noida to Agra.Consequently , the court directed the organization to send its suggestions to the state's high level committee on road safety on measures to reduce accidents. “However, instead of the situation improving, more accidents have taken place,“ said Jain, adding, “the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority has been lax in curbing the menace of speeding, the main reason for fatal accidents on the e-way .The authority has left this issue to the private concessionaire and is not taking any stringent step itself.“

The RTI reply further says that altogether 2,598 accidents and 383 deaths have taken place on the expressway between August 9, 2012 and September 30, 2015.