Noida/Yamuna City: In a major move to enhance road safety, the Yamuna Expressway Authority has announced that vehicles will be stopped at all facility centers if visibility falls below 50 meters during heavy fog. The measure has been implemented with immediate effect following directives from the Supreme Court‘s Road Safety Committee, aiming to prevent accidents during low-visibility conditions.
Strict Enforcement Across Districts
According to RK Singh, CEO of Yamuna Authority, all six districts along the expressway — Gautam Buddh Nagar, Bulandshahr, Mathura, Hathras, Aligarh, and Agra — will ensure compliance with fog warnings issued by the Meteorological Department. Police and traffic authorities will set up barricades to prevent vehicles from proceeding until conditions improve.
The directive comes after recent accidents, including a fatal collision in Mathura, prompting the state government to act swiftly under the Supreme Court’s guidelines.
Facility Centers and Vehicle Traffic
The expressway has 8 common facility centers, three located near toll plazas at Jewar, Mathura, and Agra, and five at other strategic points. Approximately 52,000 vehicles pass through these toll plazas daily, with 25–30% being heavy vehicles such as trucks and buses.
Enhanced Emergency Response Measures
To ensure rapid assistance during accidents:
- The number of ambulances and fire engines will be increased
- Police patrolling will be stepped up
- Quick Response Teams aim to reach accident sites within 20 minutes under normal conditions, though fog can delay response
Currently, five Quick Response Vehicle teams operate near Jewar toll plaza, supported by two fire engines and three ambulances
Additional Safety Measures
- Caution boards on the expressway, currently placed every 100 meters, will be increased by 20%
- Tea will be served to drivers between 1 AM and 4 AM at toll plazas
- Announcements will alert drivers about fog conditions and stoppages
The Yamuna Expressway is equipped with a state-of-the-art Intelligent Transportation System (ITS), including CCTV cameras that monitor vehicle speeds and record violations, further enhancing safety.
Background
Following multiple fog-related accidents in December, including a 28-vehicle collision on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, the government proposed stricter measures during a meeting chaired by Transport Commissioner Kinjal Singh, with representatives from NHAI and expressway management.
RK Singh emphasized:
“Vehicles will be stopped at facility centers during heavy fog. Relief teams, ambulances, and fire engines will be increased and deployed at appropriate locations.“
