If you are considering a drive from Delhi to Mumbai via the new expressway, you should be prepared for an extended wait. The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is not expected to be fully operational before 2026, as the longest expressway in India has encountered yet another delay due to ongoing construction work. Initially, the completion of the expressway was anticipated by January of the previous year, but this deadline has been revised multiple times over the past few years for various reasons.

This marks the second postponement announced this year, following Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's statement that the expressway is projected to be completed by October of the following year. In a written response in the Rajya Sabha in July, Gadkari indicated that 80 percent of the construction work on the expressway has been completed. Nevertheless, construction continues amid concerns regarding the quality of work and the presence of unfinished sections.

Delhi-Mumbai Expressway: Reasons for delay

Harsh Malhotra, the Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, stated, "Progress is ongoing and will be finalized promptly. There are certain technical and practical challenges. The necessity to acquire land from the public can occasionally lead to delays in projects." Malhotra's comments follow a recent address by Gadkari in Parliament, where he pointed out the substandard quality observed in specific sections of the expressway.

Gadkari noted that there were shortcomings in the construction of the expressway segment connecting Delhi to Vadodara. Additionally, experts from IIT Kharagpur have been engaged to assess damages in particular areas of the Sohna-Dausa section, which were affected by heavy rainfall during the monsoon season. Gadkari has also indicated that the contractors accountable for these sections have been admonished and instructed to undertake the necessary repairs at their own expense.

The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway has experienced delays for a variety of reasons. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) commenced construction on the expressway in 2018, with an initial completion timeline of five years. The foundation stone was laid by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in March 2019. In February of the previous year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first segment of the expressway, which spans approximately 209 kilometers between Sohna in Haryana and Dausa in Rajasthan. Currently, the expressway is operational in phases from Delhi to Mumbai.

Delhi-Mumbai Expressway: Distance, travel time, speed limit explained

The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is set to significantly decrease both the distance and travel duration between the two major cities. The new expressway, which spans 1,386 kilometers, has effectively shortened the distance from Delhi to Mumbai by approximately 180 kilometers. This route will traverse five states: Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. Notably, Delhi comprises the shortest segment at nine kilometers, while Gujarat accounts for the majority of the expressway with a 423-kilometer stretch.

Traveling from Delhi to Mumbai via this new expressway will also lead to a considerable reduction in travel time. As stated by Gadkari, the journey will now take only 12 hours by road, a significant improvement from the current travel time of around 24 hours. Additionally, the expressway will facilitate quicker travel between other cities, such as Jaipur and Delhi.

The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will feature the highest speed limit available on any highway in India, allowing light vehicles, such as cars, to travel at speeds of up to 120 km/h.

With eight lanes, the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway ranks among the widest highways in India, in addition to being the longest. It will also include service lanes on both sides for better access control and has been designed with the potential for future expansion to 12 lanes.

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