Yeida Approves 12% Toll Hike On Yamuna Expressway

The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (Yeida) has approved a toll hike of up to 12 per cent for the 165-kilometre Yamuna Expressway, connecting Greater Noida to Agra, starting from October 1. This move follows a recent decision by Yeida's board and marks the first hike since 2015, as the Uttar Pradesh government handed over the toll management responsibilities to Yeida.

Under the new toll structure, two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and registered tractors will now pay Rs 1.50 per kilometre, up from Rs 1.25. Cars, jeeps, and light motor vehicles will face an increased rate of Rs 2.95/km, compared to the earlier Rs 2.60/km. Buses and trucks will be charged Rs 4.60/km, up from Rs 4.15/km, while heavy vehicles will now pay Rs 14.25/km instead of Rs 12.90/km. Oversize vehicles will see their tolls rise to Rs 18.35/km, up from Rs 16.60/km.

Since the expressway's inauguration in 2012, annual toll hikes were approved until 2015, when Yeida took over the responsibility. The recent hike aims to enable the toll operator to collect around Rs 1 crore per day in toll fees.

The Suraksha Group, which took over the debt-ridden Jaypee Infratech Limited, currently manages toll operations on the expressway. Yeida's CEO, Arun Vir Singh, explained that the toll operator had sought a hike for three years but was initially denied to protect public interests. The hike was eventually approved to meet commitments made to the Suraksha Group, which plans to develop stalled Jaypee apartments based on the toll hike approval.

The decision was led by reports of significant losses in expressway operations. "If we spread the hike of 12 per cent over three years, it amounts to only a 4 per cent annual increase since 2021," Singh noted. Yeida has directed the toll operator to submit traffic forecasts and current vehicle pressure reports to assess the expected toll collections on the expressway.