Agra-Lko e-way gets SOS service

LUCKNOW: For commuters zipping down the country’s longest AgraLucknow Expressway, help would only be a call away in case of an emergency. On Tuesday, the Uttar Pradesh Expressways and Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) deployed four ambulances fully equipped with advance life support system as part of its efforts to make driving safe for the access-controlled e-way users.

“These modern ambulances with emergency medical attendants would be available on four toll/ramp plazas and their phone numbers would be displayed on sign boards along the e-way,” said a UPEIDA official. These ambulances would be stationed at Lucknow Toll Plaza, Bangarmau Ramp, Talgram/Chopla Ramp and Agra Toll Plazas.

The official said the authority was taking several steps to provide modern amenities and services along the Agra-Lucknow

› “The idea is to provide refreshment services after every 70 to 80 kilometre stretch to give the road users, especially the drivers, a break and enough rest to prepare him/her for the journey ahead OFFICIAL, UPEIDA

Expressway to make it an ecofriendly, safe and complete driving experience for commuters. “This includes construction of restrooms, motels, use of solar lights and setting up landscaped medians, sound and crash barriers, rain water harvesting management etc,” he said.

“The idea is to provide refreshment services after every 70 to 80 kilometre stretch to give the road users, especially the drivers, a break and enough rest to prepare him/her for the journey ahead,” he said. Besides, ex-service men drawn from Sainik Kalyan Nigam have been deployed to regulate traffic and ensure road safety. “We have 10 patrol vehicles each with 12 service men in three-shifts on five packages of the expressway on a trial basis for a period of two months,” said another official.

Before toll plazas came up, these 120 ex-service men were initially tasked to patrol the Agra, Shikohabad, Etawah, Kannauj and Lucknow stretches to prevent entry of heavy vehicles, ensure compliance of road safety norms and help coordinate with police in emergency services.

The expressway, which was inaugurated by former CM Akhilesh Yadav on December 23, 2016, witnessed around 688 accidents resulting in 90 deaths in just seven months before the toll tax was introduced on January 19, this year. The figures were revealed by UPEIDA in response to a RTI query by one KC Jain.