Fast Road to Agra

There is a new road linking New Delhi and Agra which is set to boost tourism at the Taj Mahal:

India opens fast road to Taj Mahal

Read about it but I any day would still prefer the train.

I did this road yesterday on my bike. It is just fabulous. Will jot down my experience.

An Expressway Odyssey – Gurgaon – New Delhi – Noida - to Agra

The Yamuna Expressway is finally open to traffic, promising to cut the travel time to Agra from Greater Noida to Two Hours.

I decided to check it out this Saturday on my bike which rarely gets to go on a road, which is freshly laid and devoid of traffic. So after breakfast on a day with a healthy trace of clouds, I set on my Classic Bullet 500 to make a day trip across to Agra.

As I neared Qutub Minar, it began to drizzle, which was welcome. The idea of heading back home came but was dismissed as this was a preparation for the trip to Leh sometime in the near future. If you cannot face the mild NCR rain, then forget about ever making a trip to the Leh mountains.

I was smoothly drenched and rains being the Delhi rains, was soon dry. After the DND road, the inviting Expressway lay wide open. By Greater Noida, one gets a feel for what lies ahead. Wide four laned road and No traffic Lights to hold you up.

It was announced that there would be no toll tax till 15th August, that explained quite a few families which were on the expressway for a picnic. The kerb had green lawn strip which was being used by folks to feel the drops on rain on the grass, some with their bare feet. Getting close to nature on a concrete highway!

The expressway being in the “Beta” launch mode, the toll gate and the conveniences were just being made operational. The cafeteria has not yet opened and was likely to be functional within a week. So, if you are headed that way anytime now, make sure you carry all the water and eatables along. There is just nothing to get by till you hit Agra.

Along the way, you will find kids, young and grown ups curiously look at the passing vehicles. Make eye contact with them and you will be rewarded with a fresh and priceless smile. In some ways that reduces the miles covered!. For them it is a novelty, to see city denizens on the tarmac. Wave to them and they will wave back with greater gusto.

The black crows have to recalibrate their altimeter, so that they keep away from harm’s way. They seem confused with the sudden invasion by fast moving vehicles in their quiet and sanguine world. You do see the occasional small dog, which didn’t get away in time from a speeding vehicle. That’s collateral damage resulting from development.

The beautiful green fields are such a balm for the sootified City eyes. Till Horizon, there is a carpet of green crops and trees. Occasionally there is an earth mound which is the result of brick making exercise and the regular Shikara of the country temples. One particular temple is situated on a raised hillock type formation and if there was a way to reach it, I would have surely taken a break.

The drive otherwise is uneventful and there is plenty of space for everyone. Make sure you try it before the whole world descends on it. The Taj is only a couple of hours away now!

We need more of these Expressways with Concrete Paving. The concrete gives a far better finish and quality of the ride is better. India has a big installed capacity in Cement production and it should be henceforth leveraged to use Cement for the entire road making work . It also saves on the Foreign Currency over the Tar / Bitumen alternative (which is an import).

It makes sense to make create this kind of infrastructure - we need more instances of it happening.

Enjoy the Ride.

I'll bet that overpriced tourist trap cafe/souvenir shop on the old road is dreading this new road.
Hurray!!

It's kind of sad to see new highways spoiling India's once quaint country side, but that's rather selfish of me...

i dont recall anything quaint about that drive from New Delhi to Agra in recent years...unless crazy traffic is quaint.
No fear, ...no way will India ever have enough infrastructure , there will always be the little country roads.

Nice write-up, Manoj; thanks for taking the trouble. I'd love to do that ride on an Enfield!