Lucknow, Jul 16 (IANS): The Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) has made wearing helmets mandatory for two-wheeler riders on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway.

The move comes days after the UPEIDA made it compulsory for commuters not to complete the 302-km journey in less than three hours. The state government also announced that those covering the stretch from Lucknow toll plaza to Agra in less than three hours will have to pay a fine for speeding.

The authorities have installed high-tech equipment at toll plazas in order to capture images of vehicles for data analysis reports. The details are then sent to the Superitendent of Police (traffic) of Agra and Lucknow districts for issuance of e-challans.

In recent months, the highway has witnessed a number of accidents after which the authorities took various measures to ensure the safety of the people. Over 250 people have died in several accidents on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway since it was opened for the public in December 2016.

According to a release, Avanish Awasthi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UPEIDA, has issued the directive for wearing helmets in an attempt to minimize the road accidents on the country's longest expressway route.

Awasthi said that two-wheeler riders will not be allowed to travel on the expressway if they don't wear helmets. The official said that a patrolling team will enforce the directive and penalize riders without helmets.

The rule came in the wake of the accident on the Yamuna Expressway on July 8 which killed 29 people when an Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) bus skidded off the road and fell into a 40-feet deep drain. The vehicle was carrying 52 people, including children.