Starting Monday, travelers on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway (DME) and the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE) will face a 5% increase in toll rates, according to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). This hike will affect both light and heavy vehicles, with the new tolls ranging from Rs 45 to Rs 160 for light vehicles and Rs 40 to Rs 250 for heavy vehicles, depending on the distance traveled.
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Currently, the toll rate stands at Rs 2.19 per kilometer on the 135-kilometer-long expressway, though traffic between Delhi and Ghaziabad remains toll-free. Following the revision, specific routes will see notable increases, according to The Times of India report. For instance, light vehicles will now pay Rs 160 for the 82-kilometer stretch from Sarai Kale Khan to Kashipur toll plaza, while minibuses and light commercial vehicles will be charged Rs 250.
Other significant changes include the toll rates for journeys between Meerut and Indirapuram, which will now be Rs 110 for light vehicles and Rs 175 for heavy vehicles. The report added that the stretch from Meerut to Dundahera will cost Rs 85 for light vehicles and Rs 140 for heavy ones, and from Meerut to Dasna, drivers will pay Rs 70 and Rs 115, respectively.
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The toll hike is expected to impact commuters and commercial transport operators who frequently use these expressways. The NHAI justifies the increase as necessary for the maintenance and development of the highways.
