Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra), part of India-based conglomerate Reliance Group, has started work on widening and tolling the Delhi-Agra road with an investment of Rs29.45bn ($558.25m).

The project, which is being undertaken through the company’s special purpose vehicle DA Toll Road, will involve widening and tolling four to six lanes of the 180km-long Delhi-Agra corridor.

Work involves construction and renovation of 16 flyovers, two overpasses, 14 vehicular underpasses, eight bridges on service roads and ten pedestrian underpasses.

The contract, which is being executed on a design, build, operate, finance and transfer (DBFOT) pattern under the supervision of National Highways Authority of India and RInfra, has a concession period of 26 years.

Reliance Infrastructure Roads CEO Sudhir R Hoshing said that widening work, when completed, will enable the corridor to handle 70,000 vehicles a day, up from its existing limit of 17,000.

"This will reduce traffic jams and bottlenecks and provide faster, safer and more comfortable travelling experiences," Hoshing added.

"Work involves construction and renovation of 16 flyovers, two overpasses, 14 vehicular underpasses, eight bridges on service roads and ten pedestrian underpasses."

The Delhi-Agra road forms part of the Golden Quadrilateral, which commuters can use for comparatively less tolling charges than other corridors, saving almost 50%.

A single trip costs Rs80 ($1.51), but local travellers can use the road any number of times over a month for Rs200 ($3.79).

Every toll plaza will feature a control room to help in find accident locations, as well as offering services for security and safety of commuters.

The Delhi-Agra road begins from the Badarpur border and ends before Yamuna Bridge in Agra city, linking major tourist locations such as Surajkund, Badkhal Lake, Shivling at Hodal, Shani Temple, ISKON temple, Banke Bihari and other temples in Mathura and Vrindavan.