Delhi-Mumbai Expressway to Be Operational in Full Within Two Years: Nitin Gadkari.

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari recently said the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will be fully completed within two years, with 75-80% of the ₹1.10 lakh crore project already finished.

Addressing a public gathering in Mandana, Kota, after inspecting the expressway and the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve Tunnel, Gadkari said the remaining work would be completed within the targeted timeframe, enabling faster travel between Delhi, Mumbai and key destinations along the corridor.

"The expressway still needs improvement. I give you my word that within two years the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will be fully completed, enabling people to travel by car from Delhi to Nariman Point and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port within about 12 hours," Gadkari said.

The minister said the idea for the expressway corridor emerged during an earlier visit to Kota, when he identified the need for a more direct road link between Delhi and the region.

During the event, Gadkari announced several highway projects for the Kota region, including approval for a 10-km four-lane Mukundara Bypass on the Kota-Jhalawar section of National Highway-52 at an estimated cost of ₹551 crore. Construction is expected to begin within three months.

The Centre has also approved a 21-km four-lane greenfield spur connecting Kota with the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway through Alantpura, involving an investment of around ₹1,000 crore. Work on the project is likely to start within three months.

Gadkari further announced plans for the ₹15,000 crore Atal Express Highway connecting Kota and Etawah along the Chambal River. The project, earlier referred to as the Chambal Express Highway, has been renamed after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) is currently under preparation, with construction to begin after completion of planning.

The minister also said the DPR process has begun for a proposed connection between Bhawani Mandi and the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway following requests from public representatives.

Highlighting the economic impact of highway development, Gadkari said improved connectivity would encourage investments in industries, logistics parks, educational institutions, medical colleges and agro-based industries, particularly in tribal regions along the expressway route.

He said infrastructure development plays a key role in economic growth, quoting former US President John F Kennedy: “American roads are not good because America is rich; America is rich because American roads are good.”

Gadkari also highlighted initiatives to promote sustainable road construction, including the use of nearly 80 lakh tonnes of municipal waste in road projects and the development of bio-bitumen from crop residue. He said technology was helping convert waste into valuable resources.

Lok Sabha Speaker and Kota-Bundi MP Om Birla and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma were among those present at the event. Gadkari had earlier inspected the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway project.