The new expressways, spanning 18,637 km through the country, are all set to break the speed barriers. One can traverse a design speed of 120 kmph through these expressways and for safe ride on these high speed stretches, the guidelines also specify that the expressways will have parallel enclosures on both sides.

According to the expressway guidelines jointly prepared by the ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), these stretches will be greenfield projects and fully access-controlled.

Only fast moving vehicles will be able enter the fully access controlled stretches through interchanges. These will also be the point of exit for the traffic. The toll plazas on these stretches will be located on the ramps of the expressway so that the traffic using the main expressways does not halt even for a second.

The guidelines also propose wayside amenities around the inter-changes which will include toilet facilities, restaurants, recreational facilities and also night halting.

Presently, the country has only 200 km of expressway, which is only 0.2 per cent of the entire NH network. Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have undertaken the construction of three more expressways — KMP Expressway, Yamuna Expressway and Ganga Expressway.

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