Jaypee says no to soft opening of Yamuna e-way on Maya b’day

Sources said the government was keen on the opening so that the Chief Minister could flaunt it as an achievement of her government in the assembly elections. The developer company,however,did not want to throw open the expressway without the toll plazas,fearing that if people were allowed to use the expressway free of charge,collecting toll later may become a major problem.

Besides,the idea of a low-key opening,without any celebration,of such a prestigious project also did not appeal to the company,it is learnt.

Once opened,the high-speed,access-controlled expressway will cut down travel time between Delhi and Agra to less than two hours. Travel on the existing highway takes more than four and a half hours.

The expressway was set to be completed in October 2010 but got delayed by the farmers agitations in Tappal,Noida and Agra. The cost of the project,which was awarded to the Jaypee Group in 2003,has touched Rs 10,000 crore.

Intitally,the plan was to complete the project by December 31,2011 and have a grand inauguration by Mayawati on her birthday.

However,the plan of a grand opening by Mayawati had to be abandoned after the announcement of elections. The government then came up with the idea of a simple inauguration by a non-political personality,along with a group of farmers.

Company officials said while the main expressway was nearing completion,the five toll plazas would take another two months. In view of the history of farmers agitations,they do not like the idea of opening the expressway until the toll plazas are complete. The company has the right to collect toll for the next 36 years.

Sources said the company should in a position to start collecting toll from April 2012. It has decided to keep the toll charge per kilometre lower than the rates of the National Highway Authority of India on its existing highway.