New Delhi: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has announced that the landmark Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is nearly 80 per cent complete, reiterating that the flagship infrastructure project will soon cut down the travel time between the national capital and the financial hub to just 12 hours.
Addressing a public gathering in Kota, Rajasthan, the minister revealed that approximately Rs 1.10 lakh crore has already been spent on the mega-highway. While acknowledging that certain operational improvements are still required, Gadkari assured that the entire corridor will be fully completed within the next two years. Once fully operational, the expressway will enable seamless, high-speed road travel stretching from Delhi right up to Nariman Point and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Mumbai.
Highlighting the developmental philosophy behind the project, the minister emphasised that the expressway is designed to serve as a catalyst for major socio-economic transformation rather than acting as a mere transit route. He noted that the alignment specifically passes through several socio-economically and educationally backward tribal districts. The presence of the highway is expected to attract industries, logistics parks, medical institutions, and agro-based enterprises to these remote pockets, thereby generating local employment and alleviating poverty. Gadkari added that since 2014, the Union Government has prioritized water, power, transport, and communication, viewing robust infrastructure as the primary driver to attract global investment and promote industrial growth.
In a bid to expand connectivity within Rajasthan, Gadkari approved the construction of the 10-km, four-lane Mukundra Bypass on the Kota–Jhalawar section of National Highway-52. The project will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 551 crore, with the government making efforts to initiate groundwork within the next three months.
Furthermore, responding to a proposal by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, the union minister announced a new 21-km, four-lane greenfield spur road that will directly connect Kota to the main Delhi-Mumbai Expressway via Anantpura, with construction slated to begin in three months. Gadkari also unveiled plans for the Rs 15,000-crore Atal Express Highway—previously known as the Chambal Highway—which will connect Kota with Etawah along the Chambal River. Named in honour of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for this expressway is currently underway, and construction is expected to commence shortly.
