yamuna expressway Tour n Map

The drive to Taj Mahal from New Delhi should take no more than two-and-a-half hours now with the inauguration of the Yamuna Expressway Thursday -- a 165-km, six-lane freeway connecting Greater Noida with Agra.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav inaugurated the expressway, built by the infrastructure major Jaypee Group, by way of a video-conference from the state capital Luckow.

The expressway promoter will also develop five integrated townships on 500 hectares each at Noida, Jaganpur, Mirzapur, Tappal near Aligarh and Kuber near Agra, officials said.

 

Permission has been obtained for toll at Rs. 2.10 per km for cars which will be levied at three points -- at 38 km, 95 km and 150 km from Greater Noida.

The expressway will be formally opened to the public at 4 p.m.

The Project Background

The Government of Uttar Pradesh has been working proactively to improve the connectivity of the National Capital Region to improve tourist attraction of Taj Mahal at Agra through the new 6 Lanes (extendable to 8 lanes) Access Controlled Expressway with brand name of Yamuna Expressway.

The Taj needs no introduction. Almost everyone who comes to India makes it a point to make a trip to the Taj. Presently Agra is about 210 km away from Delhi by road. A day visitor normally spends nine to ten traveling hours on a return trip between Delhi and Agra which leaves him with very less time in Agra to see the Taj and other places of historical importance. The concept of the Yamuna Expressway which was initially conceived with the idea of cutting down on this travel time proposes a 160 km Expressway between Greater Noida and Agra thus reducing the travel time considerably upto 100 minutes only.