Uttar Pradesh govt. to charge Rs. 500 toll price for Lucknow-Agra Expressway

The Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority will now charge Rs. 500 (one way) for using the Lucknow-Agra Expressway January 15 onwards. The 302 kilometre-long route is reputedly the longest in India; two toll plazas, one at Lucknow and another in Agra, have been put up to collect toll tax from the commuters.
For passengers driving from Lucknow to Delhi, the total toll charge shall be Rs. 915, as the toll charge levied for using the Agra-Greater Noida expressway costs Rs. 415. The authorities are, however, yet to decide the final amount to be charged for travelling from Lucknow to Agra.

"We are in the process of finalising the amount that will be charged up to each exit point on the stretch. For instance, if one is going from Lucknow and exiting the expressway at Kannauj, he or she will inform the toll plaza at Lucknow and pay a reduced amount," an official told the press.

Reportedly, the work is still on to give shape to the expressway. Facilities such as toilets are being built for public convenience. Eating joints and tourist accommodations shall come up in April, and petrol pumps by March 2018.

Meanwhile, the UP government has thought of collecting the toll tax for the first 2 months, and afterwards roll out a tender for toll collection. "We will assess how things work for the first two months. Later, we will come out with a tender for toll collection," UP Industries Minister, Satish Mahana, told the press.

This best of projects, conceived under the regime of ex UP CM Akhilesh Yadav was flagged off on November 21, 2016. It reduced travel time between Lucknow and Agra to 4 hours. Commuting to and fro Lucknow and Delhi was cut down by 6 hours. The express also gained prominence when it was used as a runway for the Indian Air Force fighter plane.