Delhi-Mumbai Expressway faces two-year delay, full completion now expected by 2027: Report
New Delhi: Commuters hoping to travel between Delhi and Mumbai in just 12 hours will have to wait longer, as the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway's completion has been pushed back by two years, The Times of India reported.
The delay is primarily due to slow progress on three sections in Gujarat, spanning a total of 87 km.
According to the Times of India report, one 35-km stretch has seen no progress, while two other sections have recorded only 7% and 35% completion.
The 1,382-km expressway was divided into multiple construction packages, with the initial deadline set for March 2024, later revised to October 2025.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari recently reviewed the Rs 1 lakh crore project's progress with NHAI and ministry officials, urging expedited work.
The expressway, passing through Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, is expected to reduce Delhi-Mumbai travel time to 12 hours once fully operational.
Ahead of the Delhi elections, MoS for Road Transport Harsh Malhotra indicated the project would now be completed by 2026, citing land acquisition and technical challenges as key factors behind the delay.
Officials reported that Haryana’s stretch is complete, while Rajasthan’s portion is expected to be finished by March-April 2026.
"This will allow seamless travel from Delhi to Vadodara by March next year. Efforts are underway to fast-track pending work in Gujarat," an official was quoted as saying by TOI.
Most sections in Maharashtra are on track to be completed by the end of this year, except for the 21-km Jawaharlal Nehru Port link.
Initially set for MSRDC construction, the highway ministry has now approved NHAI's involvement in this segment, with cost estimates being finalised for necessary approvals.
Given standard highway construction timelines, a section typically takes two years from the start to completion.
The delayed 35-km stretch in Gujarat, awarded to a single contractor, is now projected to be ready by February 2027.
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