SPEED ON YAMUNA E-WAY CUT TO 75 KMPH FOR WINTER MONTHS

GREATER NOIDA: The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (Yeida) on Friday directed the Jaypee Infratech Limited (JIL) and the traffic police to reduce the speed limit on the Yamuna Expressway to 75 kilometres per hour (kmph), from the current 100 kmph, in view of safety of motorists as visibility has reduced due to foggy conditions. This restriction will continue till February 15.

The Yeida has also increased the toll by 15 paisa per kilometre, once the concessionaire shifts the streetlights to solar energy and bulbs are replaced with light emitting diodes (LEDs).

“We have written to Jaypee Infratech Limited and the traffic police to ensure that motorists drive only 75kmph on 165km Yamuna Expressway from December 15 to February 15. We have reduced the speed limit as fog envelopes the expressway in winter, affecting visibility. Poor visibility often leads to accidents on the expressway,” Arun Vir Singh, chief executive officer, Yeida, said. The Jaypee Infratech Limited has also been asked to replace all electricity-run streetlights with solar-powered LEDs in a phased manner.

“We have allowed the operator to increase the toll by 15 paisa per kilometre only on those stretches where it has installed solar lights. We will keep revising the toll as and when more stretches are covered with solar lights. This is being done to recover the cost,” said Singh.

Besides, the Yeida has also directed the concessionaire to take steps to ensure safety of motorists. “We asked JIL to install more blinkers, distribute pamphlets to make motorists aware about safety precautions, and display safety messages on display boards. We have also directed the toll operator to increase the number of cranes from six to 10,” Singh said.