Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway in Unnao on Monday.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak were also present on the occasion.
The expressway will reduce the travel time between Lucknow and Kanpur to just 40 minutes. At present, the journey takes around two and a half to three hours. Built at a cost of ₹4,700 crore, the expressway will be opened to the public on Tuesday at 8 a.m.
The 63-km-long expressway is the country’s first barrier-less expressway. However, commuters will have to pay significantly higher toll charges. A car travelling from Lucknow to Kanpur will have to pay ₹275, compared to the earlier toll of ₹95.
Two-wheelers will not be allowed on the expressway. The maximum speed limit has been fixed at 120 kmph. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and FASTag readers installed 500 metres before the toll plaza will automatically deduct the toll without requiring vehicles to stop.
In the event of an accident, AI-enabled cameras will immediately send an alert to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) control room.
The foundation stone for the expressway was laid on January 5, 2022, and the project was completed in 1,650 days.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath arrived by helicopter at Jhau Kheda to attend the inauguration ceremony for the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway.
The three leaders travelled in the same helicopter and were received by Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana, Unnao MP Sakshi Maharaj, other public representatives and senior administrative officials. They then proceeded directly to the venue, where they viewed an exhibition showcasing the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway project. Officials briefed them on the project’s progress, technical features and the benefits it is expected to bring to the region.