Delhi-Meerut Expressway Tolls to Soar by 5% Starting April
The Delhi-Meerut Expressway will witness a significant toll rate hike of 5% starting April 1. The new rates and payment methods via FASTag or UPI have implications on daily travelers using this critical six-lane expressway.
Highlights
- •New toll rates: A 5% increase applicable from April 1.
- •Payment methods: Use of FASTag or Ultra Payment Interface (UPI) is mandatory for all transactions.
- •Implementation status: The expressway, developed in four phases since May 2018, now has a closed tolling system recording travel distances.
- •Daily traffic: Over 398,000 vehicles travel on this route daily, impacting users' travel costs.
Effective from midnight on April 1, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced a 5% increase in toll rates on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway. This change will affect all types of vehicles using the 82-kilometer stretch between Sarai Kale Khan and Meerut.
According to NHAI officials, cash payments are now banned at toll plazas. Drivers must use either FASTag or Ultra Payment Interface (UPI) for toll transactions on this expressway.
Delhi-Meerut Expressway Overview
The Delhi-Meerut Expressway is a critical six-lane expressway, part of National Highway 9. It connects crucial cities and has several entry points including Sarai Kale Khan, Indirapuram, Dundahera, Dasna, Rasulpur Sikrod, Bhojpur, and Kashi. Approximately 398,000 vehicles use this route daily, out of which around 50,000 operate solely on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway.
Under the closed tolling system implemented by NHAI, FASTag readers and cameras record travel distances, ensuring that users pay according to their actual usage. The system has been effectively operational since the expressway's opening in 2018, making toll collection seamless for commuters.
The one-way toll rates for light vehicles now amount to Rs 175 from Sarai Kale Khan to Meerut, rising by Rs 5 compared to the previous rate of Rs 170. For a return journey, the price has risen to Rs 265, an increase of Rs 10 over the earlier rate of Rs 189.
Light commercial vehicles and light freight vehicles now pay an additional Rs 10 on their travel between these points. Buses and trucks (two axles) will see a 4% hike in rates, while larger vehicles with three to six axles and very large vehicles (seven or more axles) experience higher percentage increases.
The comprehensive development of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway involved four phased constructions. The first phase from Sarai Kale Khan to UP Gate was inaugurated in May 2018, followed by the 22.2 km stretch from Dasna to Hapur becoming operational in September 2019. Later sections were officially launched in November 2021.
With a maximum speed limit of 100 km/h outside and 70 km/h within Delhi, the six-lane expressway offers an alternative route parallel to NH-9 for smoother travel experiences between these two metropolitan cities.
