CM Yogi announces toll-free travel for 15 days on Ganga Expressway
Lucknow, May 01: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday took a major public interest decision, announcing that the Ganga Expressway will remain toll-free for 15 days from the Commercial Operation Date (COD). Under this decision, the people of the state will be able to experience UP’s longest and most modern expressway without any fee.
Acting on the Chief Minister’s instructions, the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) has issued immediate instructions to the project’s concessionaires, IRB Infrastructure and Adani Infrastructure, to suspend toll collection for 15 days.
According to the order issued by UPEIDA, no toll will be charged from passengers during this period.
This decision was made after the Independent Engineer issued a Provisional Certificate under Article 14.3.1 of the Concession Agreement, setting the expressway’s commercial operation date. This marked the expressway’s completion and completion. The Yogi government aims to ensure that as many people as possible experience this state-of-the-art expressway in its initial phase. The opportunity to travel on this 594-kilometer-long expressway without tolls will provide firsthand experience of its quality, speed, and public amenities. This initiative will not only promote tourism but also strengthen public confidence in the expressway.
The Ganga Expressway has been developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model using the DBFOT (toll) model. Under this agreement, concessionaires have been granted the right to collect tolls for 27 years. However, any revenue loss resulting from this 15-day toll exemption will be compensated by the state government or UPEIDA, as per the provisions of the concession agreement.
The UPEIDA has clarified that all standards related to operation and maintenance will be strictly adhered to even during the toll-free period. Under Article 17 and other provisions of the concession agreement, no compromise will be allowed in road quality, safety, traffic management, and amenities.
This expressway, stretching from Meerut to Prayagraj, connects 12 districts of the state and is considered a game changer for Uttar Pradesh’s economy. This 15-day toll exemption will not only provide relief to the public but will also create a positive environment for this mega project. This decision is being seen as a reflection of the state government’s “Public Interest First” policy, which prioritizes infrastructure development in the state as well as making citizens feel good.
