The 'Maha Kumbh Mela' at Allahabad gave me another reason for a long drive. After successfully convincing my boss for a leave for Friday, I had 3 full days in hand to enjoy the long drive on one of the smoothest National Highways of India - The NH-2 (also a part of Asian Highway-1).
My car (Maruti Suzuki Zen Estilo) is fitted with a CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) kit. So why not make the journey more economical and 'green'! I knew Agra and Kanpur have CNG stations now. However the idea of leaving the highway and struggling with the traffic inside these cities to reach the CNG stations was troubling me. My earlier experiences in both the cities was not very good due to the ill managed traffic.
Allahabad is around 660 kms away from Delhi. According to Google maps it takes about 8 and a half hours to reach Allahabad. However, Google does not discriminate between the traffic of London and small towns of Uttar Pradesh. Therefore, (do not trust google... always.) I lot more time was required.
Delhi - Agra
Distance - 210 kms
Time taken - 2.30 hrs
I started quite late in the morning. Got the CNG cylinder full (9 kgs approx.) at Sarai Kale Khan station at 10.00 hrs
- CNG station
Operating company - Indraprastha gas ltd
Location - Sarai Kale Khan
CNG Price -Rs 39.90 / Kg (as on 8 March 2013)
This refill took me upto Next Refill station near Agra.
Reached Yamuna Expressway around 10.30 hrs.
- Road condition
My car started gliding above 100 kmph within few minutes. I can say this is the best and smoothest highway in North-India. Just after 2 and a half hrs after entering the Expressway I was on the other end of it. This includes total stoppage time of 15-20 minutes at all Three Toll Plazas (Jewar, Mathura, Agra) and a restaurant. At 13.00 hrs I was at Kuberpur, a place on NH-2, between Agra and Tundla.
- next page CNG near Agra
- next page CNG in Kanpur
I have posted some more information and relevant videos on touristhelpline.com
