The completion of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway has hit delays, primarily due to construction setbacks in Gujarat. Initially scheduled for completion in March 2024, the deadline was extended to October 2025, but recent assessments suggest the project may not be fully operational until 2027.
The 1,386-km expressway has seen significant progress in Haryana and Rajasthan, with the latter expected to be completed by March-April 2026. However, three critical sections in Gujarat, covering 87 km, remain a major obstacle. One 35-km stretch has seen no physical progress, while the other two sections have achieved only 7% and 35% completion, respectively.
Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has reviewed the project and urged officials to expedite construction. Meanwhile, in Maharashtra, most expressway segments are expected to be completed by year-end, except for a 21-km link to Jawaharlal Nehru Port.
Once completed, the Rs1 trillion expressway will cut travel time between Delhi and Mumbai to 12 hours. However, ongoing challenges in Gujarat indicate that full operationalization is unlikely before 2027.
(moneycontrol)
