Lucknow. Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) had started on July 26 to levy toll tax on Bundelkhand Expressway. Passengers will have to pay toll tax between Rs 600 to Rs 3900 at 6 different toll plazas, which will pass through Etawah, Auraiya, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Banda and Chitrakoot. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bundelkhand Expressway in July 2022. Since then, no toll tax has been imposed. Tenders were taken out for toll collection in January 2023, at that time only one company applied. This time three companies showed interest, among them Indradeep Construction Company, the highest bidder won the tender for toll collection of Bundelkhand Expressway. The company won the tender by bidding Rs 68.38 crore.
“Solar Farm” will be set up on the land between the main carriageway-road
The government is planning to set up panels on the Bundelkhand Expressway to promote solar energy. This four-lane Bundelkhand Expressway starts from the Lucknow-Agra Expressway near Etawah. Passing through Auraiya, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Mahoba and Banda in between, it ends at Bharatkup in Chitrakoot district of Bundelkhand. Official sources say that as part of its plan to encourage the use of solar energy across the state, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to convert the 296 km long Bundelkhand Expressway into a “solar expressway”. Sources said that the government will set up “solar farms” (solar panels) on both sides of the expressway. For this, it is planning to use the land between the main carriageway and the service road.
Developed under PPP model
The scheme will be developed under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. The Yogi Adityanath-led government has set a deadline to ascertain the feasibility of the project to convert the Bundelkhand Expressway into a “solar expressway”. ‘Expression of interest’ has been invited from the developers till 17th August. Sources said the project is aimed at promoting solar energy in the state and interested companies have been urged to explore the possibility of developing solar parks on PPP mode on both sides of the expressway and finalize the design of the project.
The width of the land between the road is 15-20 meters.
The four-lane Bundelkhand Expressway has been developed in such a way that the width of the land between the main carriageway and the service road is 15-20 metres. It is protected by a barbed wire fence. As the pre-existing land and barbed wire will also secure the area, which is located between the main carriageway and the service road. The land, protected by a barbed wire fence, has been deemed “safe and suitable” for “installing solar panels” in a preliminary survey.
Bundelkhand Expressway to be Uttar Pradesh’s first ‘Solar Expressway’
Bundelkhand Expressway will be the first ‘Solar Expressway’ of Uttar Pradesh. Solar panels will be installed on both sides of the 296 kilometer long route. This project is part of the Solar Energy Policy 2022 of the Government of Uttar Pradesh. Solar energy is part of policy 2022. Under this policy, the government has set a target of achieving 22,000 MW of solar power projects by 2026-27. Showing the state’s commitment towards renewable energy, the government has invited private companies to install solar panels on both sides of the Bundelkhand Expressway by August 17. The selected companies will present their plans for implementing the Solar Expressway project.
Industrial centers will be established along the expressway
Installation of solar panels on the empty space between the main carriageway and the service lane on the entire stretch of the expressway will give a boost to the economic activities of the area. There will be great convenience in setting up an industrial center along the expressway. Significantly, approval has already been given to develop industrial clusters in Jalaun and Banda areas of Bundelkhand Expressway.
All about Bundelkhand Expressway
On 15 July 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bundelkhand Expressway in the presence of the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. It is a 296 km long 4 lane expressway in the largest state of India- Uttar Pradesh. In February 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid its foundation stone in Chitrakoot district. Also, in 2018, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath decided to name the Bundelkhand Expressway as Atal Path after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. This expressway is a project to take the less developed districts of the state on the path of development. Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) is developing this project.
These are the specialty of Bundelkhand Expressway:
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This is the fastest expressway to be built in the state. It was constructed in 28 months.
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Its construction was completed at 12.6% less than the cost plan.
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Rain water harvesting pits have been made along with the stretch way.
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The expressway can be expanded to six lanes
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It will serve as the lifeline of commercial activity in the areas through which the expressway passes.
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This will give a boost to tourism as it is home to many tourist spots
The main features of the expressway are:
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18 flyover
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14 big bridges
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6 toll plaza
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7 Ramp Plaza
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4 Railway over bridge
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266 small bridge
This area will get direct benefit from Bundelkhand Expressway
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It will connect the underdeveloped districts of UP. Such districts will be connected to Delhi NCR through Agra-Lucknow Expressway and Yamuna Expressway.
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The travel time between Delhi and Chitrakoot will be reduced from 14 hours to 8 hours.
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smooth and fast transit tax corridor
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Around 5000 direct and indirect jobs will be generated in various sectors like agriculture, handloom industry, food processing units, commerce, tourism and education sector.
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It will also help in promoting religious tourism as it connects to Chitrakoot, where Lord Rama spent 14 years.
This is the route of Bundelkhand Expressway
Bundelkhand Expressway passes through seven districts of Uttar Pradesh. It has been built to connect districts like Etawah, Auraiya, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Banda, Chitrakoot. Rivers like Bagen, Ken, Shyama, Chandawal, Birma, Yamuna, Betwa and Sengar flow between these districts. The expressway will further connect to Delhi NCR via Agra-Lucknow Expressway and Yamuna Expressway. It also connects to the Delhi-Meerut Expressway. This will reduce the travel time between Delhi NCR and Chitrakoot to 8 hours from the existing 14 hours.
7000 crore approved for Bundelkhand Expressway project
The estimated cost of the Bundelkhand Expressway project is around Rs 1500 crore. This also includes the cost of the land for the project. The project has been divided into six civil packages, and each of these developers has been given a fixed budget. The minimum tender cost is about 12.72% less than the estimated cost. UPEIDA has benefited from this. Funding of Rs 7000 crore was approved by Bank of Baroda in 2019 for the expressway.
Bundelkhand Expressway: Impact on Real Estate
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the Bundelkhand Expressway in July 2022; Since then, it has been playing a major role in real estate development. Property (land) rates have increased by 15% to 20% in the last year around areas like Hamirpur, Agra and Etawah. Government of India is planning to set up many restaurants, hotels and petrol pumps along the expressway. Many developers have started developing several residential and commercial projects. Religious tourism will benefit from the Bundelkhand Expressway. More employment opportunities will be attracted. Two corridors are being built on the Bundelkhand Expressway at Jalaun and Banda. This corridor is different from the Defense Industrial Corridor.