Agra e-way to open on Aug 9

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav will inaugurate the Greater Noida-Agra Yamuna Expressway on August 9. The state government is likely to finalise toll rates and issue a notification in this regard on Tuesday.

It's official.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav will inaugurate the Greater Noida-Agra Yamuna Expressway on August 9. The state government is likely to finalise toll rates and issue a notification in this regard on Tuesday.

Akhilesh will do the honours from his official residence in Lucknow at 9 am on Thursday. The expressway will be thrown open to public at 4 pm. To mark the occasion, a cabinet minister - representative of the CM - will be part of a function to be held at zero mile at Greater Noida, which will be attended by senior local officials," said a senior official in Lucknow.

According to the terms of a concession agreement, Jaypee Infratech — the developer of the toll road — will collect tolls at rates fixed by the state government for 36 years. There are three toll tax plazas — Jewar, Mathura and near Agra. The firm has also been given land parcels for construction of five townships along the link.

The Yamuna Expressway industrial development authority (YEIDA) has sent a proposal of toll rates. After consultations with legal and finance departments, the government will take a final call.

Via this six-lane, 165 km link, the travel time between Agra and Delhi's various tourist places such as Red Fort, Qutub Minar and India Gate would come down to less than three hours.