Ganga Expressway Toll Explained: Will Annual Passes Work and What Charges Can Travelers Expect

Ganga Expressway: The Ganga Expressway—constructed to connect several small villages and districts across Uttar Pradesh—is scheduled to be inaugurated tomorrow, April 29. Before the event, let’s take a look at details regarding its toll tax, annual passes, and other related information.

Ganga Expressway News: The Ganga Expressway, a vital link connecting various parts of Uttar Pradesh, is fully prepared for its inauguration. The expressway is set to be inaugurated tomorrow—April 29, 2026—by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Hardoi. Following the inauguration, the expressway will be opened to the general public. This will enable travelers driving their own vehicles from Meerut to various districts of Uttar Pradesh to reach their destinations in significantly less time. However, before embarking on this journey, it is essential for travelers to know how much will be deducted via FASTag for travel on this route, as well as the number of toll plazas they will encounter.

How Many Toll Plazas Will Be on the Ganga Expressway?

The Ganga Expressway features two main toll plazas designed to manage traffic flowing between Meerut and Prayagraj. Additionally, there will be 19 ramp toll plazas positioned at entry and exit points to regulate access. According to reports, these toll operations will function based on a “closed system.”

Regarding FASTag, no official announcement has been made yet. However, according to a report by Moneycontrol, cars traveling from Meerut to Prayagraj are expected to be charged a toll fee at a rate of approximately ₹2.55 per kilometer. For this 594-kilometer-long expressway, the total toll amount could therefore come to approximately ₹1,515. It is worth noting, however, that the toll rates for buses and trucks will differ.

Will Annual Passes Be Valid?

Another question surrounding this expressway is whether the annual pass introduced by the NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) will be accepted here. To clarify, the NHAI annual pass—which involves a recharge of ₹3,075—is valid exclusively for National Highways and National Expressways. The construction and operation of the Ganga Expressway have been undertaken by a state-level entity, UPEIDA (Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority); consequently, the annual pass scheme applicable to central government projects will not apply to this expressway.

However, pass facilities are indeed available on the Ganga Expressway. Provisions have been made by UPEIDA to issue passes to regular commuters traveling on this route. Under this arrangement, two types of passes will be offered to travelers:

Return Journey Pass

• This pass entitles you to a toll concession if you complete a round trip (traveling to a destination and returning) within the same day.
• With this pass, the toll charged will be limited to 1.6 times the rate for a single one-way journey.

Monthly Pass

• This pass is designed for local residents or individuals who travel regularly along this specific route.
• This pass will be issued to those who undertake more than 20 journeys within a single month.
• Travelers utilizing this pass will be entitled to special concessions.

About the Ganga Expressway

The Ganga Expressway received Cabinet approval in 2020, followed by its Bhoomi Pujan (groundbreaking ceremony)—performed by the Prime Minister in Shahjahanpur—on December 18, 2021. The expressway is now slated for completion in April 2026 and spans a total length of 594 kilometers. It is a 6-lane expressway, with provisions for future expansion to 8 lanes. The construction of the expressway has entailed an estimated cost of approximately ₹36,230 crore. The expressway commences at Bijoli village in Meerut and concludes at Judapur Dandu village in Prayagraj.