Automobile
Newly inaugurated Delhi-Meerut Expressway to remain toll free for commuters
The newly-inaugurated Delhi-Meerut Expressway may remain toll-free for commuters for the next couple of months. The 82-km long expressway has been developed as a Smart Expressway will become the first Indian highway to introduce Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cum FasTag based Multi Lane Free Flow Tolling System.
The 82-km-long Delhi-Meerut expressway was formally thrown open for use by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on April 1.
The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has already completed a month-long trial of the automatic number plate reader. The system is build to help deducting toll fees for the highway without stopping vehicles at toll gates. This will ensure free flow of high speed traffic without any chances of queues.
Mudit Garg, who is the Project Director at NHAI, has said the chances of toll recovery are slim right now because toll rates have not been determined by NHAI yet. He also said that preparations are being made to determine toll rates which may take up to two months. Which essentially means that vehicles may ply on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway without paying toll till July.
According to the trial report of the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cum FASTag based Multi Lane Free Flow Tolling System, around 55 lakh vehicles have used the Delhi-Meerut Expressway in the last thirty five days since its opening on April 1. The control room has got the complete details of the traced vehicles through the automatic number plate reader system. These details will help in collecting toll through FASTag once the rates are finalised and implemented.
The Delhi-Meerut Expressway has 60 kms of expressway and 22 kms of national highway. The project has been developed at a cost of ₹8,346 crore. Facilities like ambulance, crane, petrol pump, restaurants, maintenance of vehicles shops have been developed for the convenience of commuting vehicles on the expressway.
Besides such facilities, the Delhi-Meerut Expressway also has provisions for cyclists and pedestrians. There is over 2.5 meters cycle corridor and 2 meters-wide footpath alongside the roads on phase 1 and phase 2 of the expressway.
Automobile
Improved version of Hyundai Creta launched in Indian market: Check it out here
Hyundai India launched the much-awaited Creta Knight Edition in the country at a starting price of Rs 13.51 lakh (ex-showroom, all-India). This new variant is available in both petrol and diesel engine options and can be had either with a manual or an automatic transmission unit. To read more about the Creta Knight Edition, click here. In addition to this, the company has also introduced a model-year update for the Hyundai Creta with new feature additions.
The 2022 Hyundai Creta is now available in a new Denim Blue colour option and the Highline TPMS is now standard across all variants. The SX (O) trim now also gets a glossy black centre console. Furthermore, the company will offer the iMT option on the 1.5-litre petrol ‘S’ variant to further expand choices for the customers. The new S+ variant powered by a 1.4-litre T-GDi petrol engine with 7DCT now gets an additional set of features, such as –
– Smart panoramic sunroof
– 16-inch black alloy wheels
– Smartphone wireless charger
– Rear Disc Brakes
– Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
– Vehicle Stability Management (VSM)
– Hill start assist control (HAC)
– Paddle shifters
– Metal pedals
– Electric and auto-folding ORVMs
– Power window auto up/down
Mechanically, the SUV continues to be powered by the existing petrol and diesel engine options.