Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway Opens With Barrier-Free FASTag Toll System

Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway Opens With Barrier-Free FASTag Toll System

The Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway was inaugurated on Monday, marking the opening of a new high-speed corridor designed to improve connectivity between two of Uttar Pradesh's largest cities. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari formally launched the 63-kilometre, six-lane expressway, which is expected to reduce travel time between Lucknow and Kanpur from around two hours to approximately one hour.

According to Navbharat Times, the ₹4,200-crore project introduces a barrier-free toll collection system that relies entirely on FASTag technology. Officials say the expressway is the first in India to operate without conventional toll barriers, allowing vehicles to continue moving while toll charges are deducted automatically.

The new access-controlled expressway has been developed to provide faster and safer travel while easing congestion on the existing Lucknow-Kanpur route. By separating high-speed traffic from local roads, the corridor is expected to improve traffic flow for both passenger and commercial vehicles traveling between the two cities.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has notified different toll charges based on vehicle category. For cars, jeeps and vans, the one-way toll has been set at ₹275. Drivers making a return trip within 24 hours will pay a total of ₹415 instead of ₹550 for two separate one-way journeys, resulting in a saving of ₹135.

Light commercial vehicles will pay ₹445 for a one-way trip, while the return fare within 24 hours has been fixed at ₹670. Buses and trucks will be charged ₹935 for a single journey and ₹1,405 for a return trip completed within the same 24-hour period. Multi-axle heavy vehicles will pay ₹1,020 one way or ₹1,530 for a qualifying return journey.

Unlike traditional toll plazas where vehicles stop to make payments, toll collection on the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway will be handled electronically. According to the report, four toll collection points have been established at Shivpura, Bani, Amarsas and Azad intersections. As vehicles pass these locations, toll charges will be deducted automatically through their FASTag accounts, eliminating the need for physical toll barriers.

The expressway has also been designed with controlled access to enhance safety and maintain traffic speed. As a result, two-wheelers and three-wheelers will not be permitted to use the corridor. The restriction is intended to support the safe operation of the high-speed roadway and reduce the risk of accidents involving slower-moving vehicles.

The inauguration ceremony also included the launch of additional road infrastructure projects in Uttar Pradesh. Among them was the completion of a 32-kilometre four-lane section of National Highway 731 connecting Hardoi and Lucknow. According to the report, the project was built at a cost of ₹541 crore and is expected to strengthen regional connectivity while supporting passenger and freight movement.

In addition, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stone for a new four-lane flyover at the Engineering College intersection on National Highway 24 in Lucknow. The one-kilometre flyover is estimated to cost ₹109 crore and is intended to reduce congestion at one of the city's busiest traffic junctions. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was also expected to attend the event.

The Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway forms part of the government's broader effort to expand modern highway infrastructure across Uttar Pradesh. Improved road connectivity is expected to benefit daily commuters, commercial transport operators and businesses by reducing travel times and improving the efficiency of road transport between major urban centres.

With its barrier-free FASTag system, access-controlled design and reduced travel time, the expressway represents a significant addition to the state's transport network. Transport authorities expect the project to improve traffic movement, enhance road safety and support long-term economic activity along one of Uttar Pradesh's busiest travel corridors.