Delhi-Mumbai Expressway Likely to Be Completed by 2027 Amid Construction Delays
Delhi-Mumbai Expressway project, aimed at reducing travel time between India’s two largest cities to just 12 hours, is now unlikely to be completed before 2027. Initially scheduled for completion by March 2024, the project has faced significant delays, particularly in the construction of several key stretches. Currently, the expressway, which spans 1,382 kilometres, has not seen full progress, especially in three important sections in Gujarat, which together total 87 kilometres.
These delays include one 35-kilometre stretch with no physical progress yet, and two other sections with progress rates of just 7% and 35%, respectively. Given the pace of work, experts predict the 35-kilometre stretch may be completed and open for traffic by February 2027. As a result, the project’s completion has been postponed twice, with the latest deadline set for October 2025. The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway has been divided into smaller packages to facilitate simultaneous construction at various points along the route. Each package was tendered separately, leading to some inconsistencies in progress. In the wake of the delays, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, reviewed the progress of the project, instructing officials to expedite the construction process to meet the new timelines.
The primary hurdles contributing to the delay are related to land acquisition, logistical challenges, and technical difficulties, especially in Gujarat. During the Delhi elections, Harsh Malhotra, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, had previously indicated that the project would be completed by 2026, but it appears that the challenges faced in the construction process make this timeline unfeasible. Despite these setbacks, significant progress has been made in other parts of the project. The Haryana section is complete, and work in Rajasthan is expected to be finished by March-April 2026. This would allow uninterrupted travel from Delhi to Vadodara using the expressway by that time. On the other hand, Maharashtra is also expected to complete most of its sections by the end of this year, with the exception of the 21-kilometre link to Jawaharlal Nehru Port, which is still under construction.
One of the primary benefits of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is the reduction in travel time between the two cities. Once completed, the expressway will cut down the journey from 24 hours to just 12 hours, facilitating quicker and more efficient transportation of goods and passengers. This will also significantly boost the economic activities between Delhi and Mumbai, two of India’s most important commercial hubs. However, despite the promise of economic benefits and increased connectivity, the delayed completion of the expressway raises concerns about the efficiency of large-scale infrastructure projects in India. The challenges faced by the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway project serve as a reminder of the complexities involved in such projects, from land acquisition to timely construction, and the need for better management and coordination to ensure that timelines are met.
While the revised deadlines are still two years away, the focus will now shift to expediting the work in Gujarat and ensuring that remaining sections across the country are completed on time. The completion of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway remains a critical milestone for India’s infrastructure development, and its final opening will be a significant achievement for the country’s road network. As work progresses, officials are optimistic that the challenges will be overcome and that the expressway will soon become a vital part of India’s transportation infrastructure, reducing travel time and boosting economic growth along its route.
