Inauguration of EPE is expected to divert approximately 50,000 – 52,000 freight vehicles that entered the national capital only to reach neighbouring states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan
Days before Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, inaugurates the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, transport companies have given a thumbs up to the government’s decision to “save them from Delhi’s traffic” even as they stay divided over higher toll charges across the stretch.
“EPE is going to benefit all the transporters at large… It’s a game changer for the transport industry to move their business out of Delhi,” said Harpreet Singh Malhotra, chairman and managing director, Tiger Logistics (India) Limited adding that it’s a “relief for the industry” to avoid traversing through Delhi.
The foundation stone of the 135-km expressway was laid by the prime minister in 2015 with the aim to reduce air pollution in and around the national capital region. The e’way originates at Kundli and terminates at Palwal covering major junctions like Bhaghpat, Ghaziabad, Meerut et cetera.
“The government has selected the right path for the e’way as it covers densely populated areas, which can now be surpassed,” Malhotra said.
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Calling it a “long due demand” of Delhi/NCR, Chander Agarwal, managing director for TCI Express Limited said that the expressway will be a relief for the transporters.
“Delhi is one of the most important business destinations... Our handsome amount of business travel through the city and other NCR cities like Ghaziabad, Noida-Greater Noida, Faridabad and other cities of western UP and Uttarakhand,” he said adding, “it will make transit really fast” helping them “avoid horrors of Delhi”.
Inauguration of EPE is expected to divert approximately 50,000 – 52,000 freight vehicles that entered the national capital only to reach neighbouring states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, etc. This led to higher pollution levels in the city coupled with traffic congestion in the streets.
Transporters are also anticipating that industrial and business set ups will spring along the route, especially around towns and cities at the interchanges.
No entry in the capital
National capital has restricted entry of medium and heavy commercial vehicles due to rising pollution levels in the city. Commercial fleets can traverse through the city only between 11 pm and 7 am to avoid traffic congestion.
“Entering Delhi was a big headache for transportation firms as we have to maintain the time schedule to reach the customer, proper line-up with route information and other formalities. In-spite of all documents in place, we had to face security agencies interferes for many reasons,” said Agarwal adding that transporters, now, will not have to wait for entry opening for trucks' movement.
Another transporter said that drivers were repeatedly harassed by traffic cops and were stopped at “check-nakas” on regular basis.
“Hopefully, this will not happen now and drivers won’t bear the brunt of delayed trips,” he said, requesting anonymity. “Entering Delhi was a nightmare”.
Transporters believe that EPE will help reduce three to four hours per trip thereby improving overall business efficiency.
Higher toll: Yay or Nay?
While transporters are happy for shorter travel time, they stand divided over expected higher toll charges at the expressway.
“Higher toll charges will not act as deterrent as the overall cost will come down,” said Malhotra. “If higher toll makes you enjoy lesser traffic and better amenities, it si not a problem”.
Other transporters, however, said that since it has to be paid by the transporting firm only, it shouldn’t be too high for their pockets.
“Toll burden is generally taken by transporters only. Besides this, logistics sector is facing many problems like increasing fuel price, new trainspotting norms and upgradation of fleets etc. Looking at the stress on logistics sector, we are hoping that the toll charge on EPE will be reasonable and compatible with earlier charges,” said another transporting firm, refusing to be identified.
Moneycontrol recently reported that proposed toll charges for cars or jeeps are Rs 1.38/ km while it is Rs 4.68/km for trucks or buses. The cost for the entire stretch has been proposed as Rs 190 for cars or jeeps and Rs 630 for trucks or buses.
Officials advocate higher toll charges for various services like intelligent traffic management system, over speed checking devices, weigh-in-motion sensors, closed circuit television cameras coupled with leisure facilities like rest rooms, motels, fuel stations, eating joints, et cetera.
Rs 11,000 crore expressway will be thrown open to public on April 29, 2018 by the prime minister and has been built in record time of 500 days. Construction of the expressway was marred by various issues like slow land acquisition and farmers’ protests. While land dispute took a decade to be resolved, farmers’ protests, demanding better compensation for their land in areas like Noida blocked work for more than a month.