Traffic on Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow–Agra Expressway is expected to rise nearly 2.5 times over the weekend as motorists return to workplaces after Diwali, prompting authorities to increase vigilance and staffing at toll plazas. UPEIDA officials estimate that daily vehicle volumes could reach around 65,000, compared with the usual 25,000.
The Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority said additional arrangements are being made on state-operated expressways to prevent a repeat of the congestion reported at toll plazas on November 5, 6 and 7. During that period, commuters travelling on routes connecting Lucknow with the National Capital Region faced queues and waiting times of between 30 and 45 minutes at some toll points.
The expected weekend rush is linked to post-Diwali return travel by motorists heading back to workplaces. Officials said extra vigil would be maintained at toll plazas on Saturday and Sunday, with the focus on managing queues and reducing delays as vehicle volumes increase on the Lucknow–Agra corridor and other expressways operated by state government units.
UPEIDA has also issued a clarification on toll payments. The annual pass issued by the National Highways Authority of India will not be valid on state-operated expressways in Uttar Pradesh, including the Yamuna Expressway, the Lucknow–Agra Expressway and the Ganga Expressway network.
“We want to clarify before all the commuters that the annual pass provided by National Highways Authority of India will not work over the state operated expressways,” said Rajesh Kumar Pandey, chief security officer of the expressways at UPEIDA.
Motorists whose FASTag accounts do not have sufficient balance will not be charged an additional penalty, according to officials. They will instead be allowed to pay the regular toll amount in cash or through the Unified Payments Interface. Point-of-sale card machines have also been deployed at major toll plazas on the primary carriageways.
Officials cautioned, however, that card payments may not work consistently at some locations because of weak internet connectivity. The problem is reported to be more common in certain intermediate towns along the Lucknow–Agra corridor, potentially leaving motorists dependent on cash, UPI or a functioning FASTag balance when electronic card payments fail.
The payment clarification is significant for travellers who may assume that an NHAI annual pass applies across all expressways. The corridors covered by the advisory are operated by state government units, which have separate toll arrangements from those managed by the national highways authority.
UPEIDA is considering an annual pass system for state-operated expressways on the lines of the NHAI system. It is also examining local passes for residents of towns near toll plazas. The proposed local arrangement would be similar to the NHAI provision allowing unlimited access for verified residents living within a 20-kilometre radius of a toll plaza.
For the immediate weekend rush, authorities have asked motorists to account for higher traffic volumes, check their FASTag balance before travel and keep alternative payment options available. The additional toll-plaza arrangements and payment measures are intended to manage the expected surge on Saturday and Sunday.
