This UP Expressway Promises Rs 15 Toll, Cuts Lucknow-Kanpur Travel To Just 60 Minutes | Business News

The new expressway is expected to reduce traffic by 50-60%. (Representational Image)

Uttar Pradesh, already holding the distinction of having the highest number of expressways in the country, is set to add another major road link to its infrastructure map. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has confirmed that work on two new expressways is underway, including the long-awaited corridor connecting Lucknow and Kanpur.

Though relatively shorter in length compared to other expressways in the state, the 90-kilometre stretch between Lucknow and Kanpur is expected to bring significant relief to commuters. At present, the journey between the two cities can take nearly three hours owing to bottlenecks and frequent congestion along the existing highway. According to the NHAI, once the new route is complete, the travel time will be cut to just one hour.

On the issue of tolls, the NHAI has clarified, “A typical one-way toll on this expressway will be around Rs 125. If an annual pass is obtained, the toll will be only Rs 15. However, commercial vehicles plying on this expressway will not be exempt from the toll.” Officials further explained that annual passes for heavy and commercial vehicles are not yet in place.

Currently, commuters pay toll charges for travelling between the two cities on the existing National Highway. The toll for the new expressway, NHAI said, will be about 1.25 times higher. Despite this, the authority estimates that nearly 95 per cent of non-commercial vehicles will prefer the new road, easing pressure on the existing highway and cutting traffic snarls substantially.

Traffic diversion is expected to be considerable. The NHAI projects that once operational, the new expressway will reduce the load on the current highway by 50 to 60 per cent. Daily commuters are expected to benefit particularly from annual passes, priced at approximately Rs 3,000, which apply to NHAI-constructed highways and expressways.

Officials have also factored in long-term growth. The expressway is being constructed as a six-lane stretch, with provisions to expand it to eight lanes as traffic density increases. Nearly 40,000 vehicles are estimated to use the road every day, and NHAI has expressed confidence that the new infrastructure will be able to handle traffic volumes for the next five decades.

With construction already underway, authorities expect the project to be completed soon. For travellers between Lucknow and Kanpur, long delays at choke points may finally be a thing of the past.