Surat stretch of Delhi-Mumbai expressway
The government is targeting the opening of the Delhi-Surat section of the Delhi-Mumbai expressway by March, with two additional stretches of over 300 km almost ready, according to a Ministry of Road Transport and Highways document. A 100 km section between Vadodara and Ankleshwar is nearly complete and set for inauguration, while another 205 km stretch between Lalsot and Jhalawar is almost finished. Road Transport and Highways secretary Anurag Jain mentioned that the ministry aims to start the Delhi-Surat section by March, except for a small part in Rajasthan with an 8 km tunnel.
As of December, out of the 1,386 km Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, work on the 920 km stretch has been completed, constituting about 67%. The ministry has opened sections that are ready for public use, including stretches between Sohna and Lalsot (247 km) and Jhalawar and Madhya Pradesh-Gujarat Border (245 km) in 2023. Work on the project, expected to reduce travel time between Delhi and Mumbai, is progressing in various states, with Gujarat having the highest share at 432 km, followed by Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Delhi. The entire expressway is anticipated to be operational by mid-2025.
The Delhi-Mumbai expressway, developed at a cost of around Rs 1 lakh crore, is poised to be the longest expressway in India. It aims to halve the commute time between Delhi and Mumbai from nearly 24 hours to 12 hours, shortening the distance by 130 km. The project is expected to enhance connectivity to economic hubs, bringing economic prosperity and generating annual fuel savings and reduced CO2 emissions.
