Delhi Mumbai Expressway
India is a vast country with a rapidly growing economy, and its infrastructure is struggling to keep up with the demands of the population. One of the most significant infrastructure projects underway in India is the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, which will connect the two major cities Delhi and Mumbai, and serve as a major artery for transportation across the country.
The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is a six-lane highway that will stretch for over 1,350 kilometers and connect Delhi, the capital of India, to Mumbai, the financial capital of the country. This ambitious project is expected to have a significant impact on the transportation and logistics industry in India, as well as on the overall economy of the country.
The project was launched in 2019, and construction work is currently underway in several stages. The highway will move through six states, including Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. The total cost of the development of this expressway is supposed to be around Rs. 1 lakh crore ($13 billion USD), making it among the most exorbitant infrastructure projects in India.
The Route of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway
The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway connects Delhi, the capital of India with Mumbai. It is a 1,350 km-long eight-lane access-controlled expressway. The expressway will cross six states of India that include Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Dadra, and Nagar Haveli.
Starting from Kundli, which is a suburban town in the northern state of Haryana, the Delhi Mumbai Expressway route runs parallel to the National Highway-44 (NH-44) and passes through several towns and cities in Haryana, including Sonipat, Jhajjar, and Rewari. The expressway then enters Rajasthan and passes through the districts of Alwar and Bharatpur, before entering Madhya Pradesh.
In Madhya Pradesh, the Delhi Mumbai Expressway passes through the districts of Ratlam and Mandsaur, before entering Gujarat. In Gujarat, the expressway passes through the districts of Dahod, Vadodara, and Surat, before entering Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
After passing through Dadra and Nagar Haveli, which is a union territory of India, the Delhi Mumbai Expressway enters Maharashtra and passes through several towns and cities, including Nashik, Igatpuri, Kasara, Kalyan, and Panvel. The expressway terminates at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Mumbai, which is India's largest container port.
The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway has several interchanges and service roads for seamless connectivity with other highways and towns along its route. The expressway also has a 3.6 km-long tunnel through the Aravalli mountain range in Haryana to minimize the impact on the environment and wildlife. Overall, the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is a significant infrastructure project that will provide seamless connectivity between Delhi and Mumbai and improve the economic growth of the region.
Importance of Delhi-Mumbai Expressway
- The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is believed to offer several benefits to the Indian economy. By reducing between two major cities, Delhi and Mumbai. One of the most important benefits is the reduction in traveling time between the two major cities. Currently, it takes around 24 hours to travel by road between Delhi and Mumbai, but with the new expressway, this time is expected to be reduced to around 12 hours. This reduction in travel time will have a significant impact on the logistics industry, as it will make transportation faster and more efficient.
- The expressway will also have a positive impact on the real estate sector in the regions through which it passes. The regions surrounding the expressway are expected to see a rise in property prices as connectivity improves.
- One of the key features of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is its innovative design which includes several eco-friendly features. For example, the expressway will have a 3.6 km-long tunnel through the Aravalli mountain range to minimize the impact on the environment and wildlife. In order to recharge the groundwater table, The tunnel will also comprise a rainwater harvesting system.
- In addition, the expressway will have several amenities for the convenience of travelers, including rest areas, petrol pumps, restaurants, and motels. The expressway will also have advanced traffic management systems, including surveillance cameras, speed cameras, and automatic toll collection, to ensure the safety and smooth flow of traffic.
- The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is believed to have a significant influence on the logistics and transportation sectors in the country. The faster connectivity between Delhi and Mumbai will reduce transportation costs and time for the movement of goods, which will boost trade and commerce. The expressway will also create employment opportunities and spur the development of industries and towns along its route.
Phases of Delhi Mumbai Expressway
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DND-Faridabad-KMP Phase
This project is being developed in multiple phases, and the DND-Faridabad-KMP Phase is one of them. The DND-Faridabad-KMP Phase of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway project involves the construction of a 55-kilometer-long expressway that connects the Delhi-Noida-Direct Flyway (DND) with the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway. The DND-Faridabad-KMP Phase also includes the construction of a 3.6-kilometer-long elevated road between Faridabad and Ballabgarh. Once completed, the DND-Faridabad-KMP Phase will provide seamless connectivity between Delhi, Noida, Faridabad, and other nearby towns and cities.
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Sohna-KMP-Vadodara phase
The Sohna-KMP-Vadodara phase of the Delhi Mumbai Expressway is a planned extension of the existing Delhi Mumbai Expressway, developed as part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana program of the Indian government. The Sohna-KMP-Vadodara phase of the expressway is a 1,250 km stretch, which is currently under development. It will start from the existing KMP Expressway in Haryana's Sohna region and end at Vadodara in Gujarat. This Phase of the expressway is expected to cost around Rs. 44,000 crores and will be developed on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis.
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Vadodara-Virar phase
The Vadodara-Virar Phase of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is a proposed stretch of the upcoming 8-lane expressway project that aims to connect the two major cities of Delhi and Mumbai via an uninterrupted high-speed road network. This particular Phase of the project covers a distance of around 380 km and is expected to pass through the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. It is expected to start from Vadodara in Gujarat and terminate at Virar in Maharashtra.
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Virar-JNPT phase
This project phase covers a distance of around 110 km and is expected to pass through Maharashtra. It is expected to start from Virar, a city located on the outskirts of Mumbai, and terminate at JNPT (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust), a major seaport located in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. The Virar-JNPT Phase is a critical segment of the overall project. It will provide a direct high-speed road link between the Mumbai metropolitan region and the JNPT port, one of the busiest seaports in India.
Route Map of Delhi Mumbai Expressway
Route Map of Delhi Mumbai Expressway in Haryana
The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will pass through the state of Haryana for a distance of approximately 80 km. Here is the route map of the expressway in Haryana:
Starting from the border of Rajasthan and Haryana near the Kherki Daula toll plaza, the expressway will pass through the districts of Rewari and Jhajjar, before reaching the state border of Haryana and Maharashtra near the town of Kharak Punia.
Some of the major towns and cities that the expressway will pass through in Haryana include:
- Rewari
- Jhajjar
- Pataudi
The exact alignment of the expressway in Haryana is subject to change based on ongoing construction and land acquisition activities.
Route Map of Delhi Mumbai Expressway in Rajasthan
The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will pass through the state of Rajasthan for a distance of approximately 380 km. Here is the route map of the expressway in Rajasthan:
Starting from the Gurugram-Manesar Expressway in Haryana, the expressway will enter Rajasthan near the town of Kotputli, located in the Jaipur district. From there, the expressway will pass through the following districts in Rajasthan:
- Jaipur
- Ajmer
- Bhilwara
- Rajsamand
- Udaipur
Route Map of Delhi Mumbai Expressway in Madhya Pradesh
The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will pass through the state of Madhya Pradesh for a distance of approximately 320 km. Here is the route map of the expressway in Madhya Pradesh:
Starting from the state border of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh near the town of Ratlam, the expressway will pass through the following districts in Madhya Pradesh:
- Ratlam
- Mandsaur
- Neemuch
- Shamgarh
- Agar-Malwa
- Dewas
The expressway will terminate at the border of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra near the town of Sendhwa.
Route Map of Delhi Mumbai Expressway in Gujarat
The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will pass through the state of Gujarat for a distance of approximately 400 km. Here is the route map of the expressway in Gujarat:
Starting from the state border of Rajasthan and Gujarat near the town of Shamlaji, the expressway will pass through the following districts in Gujarat:
- Aravalli
- Sabarkantha
- Mahisagar
- Vadodara
- Bharuch
- Surat
- Navsari
- Valsad
The expressway will terminate at the border of Gujarat and Maharashtra near the town of Dhule.
Route Map of Delhi Mumbai Expressway in Maharashtra
The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will pass through the state of Maharashtra for a distance of approximately 750 km. Here is the route map of the expressway in Maharashtra:
Starting from the border of Gujarat and Maharashtra near the town of Dhule, the expressway will pass through the following districts in Maharashtra:
- Nashik
- Thane
- Palghar
- Raigad
The expressway will terminate at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), which is a major seaport located in the Raigad district of Maharashtra.
Cost of developing Delhi Mumbai Expressway
The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is a mega infrastructure project in India that is estimated to cost around Rs. 1 trillion ($14 billion) to build. Being developed as part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana, a flagship program of the Indian government that aims to boost the road infrastructure of the country.
The project is being financed through a mix of sources, including government funding, loans from domestic and international banks, and private investments. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which is responsible for the development of the project, has signed several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with private companies for the development of different sections of the expressway.
The NHAI has also launched a Toll-Operate-Transfer (TOT) model for the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway map, under which the operation and maintenance of the expressway will be given to a private company for a period of 25 years. The private company will collect tolls from the users of the expressway and will be responsible for the maintenance and repair of the infrastructure.
The TOT model is expected to generate revenue for the government, which can be used for the development of other infrastructure projects. The government has also announced several incentives for the private sector to invest in the development of the expressway, including tax breaks and subsidies.
Overall, the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is a significant infrastructure project that requires a substantial investment. However, the project is expected to have a major impact on the economy of the region and the country as a whole, and the government is taking several measures to ensure its successful completion.
Common Questions about Delhi-Mumbai Expressway
Q. What will the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway's maximum speed be?
A. The maximum speed limit will be 120 mph.
Q. On the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, what type of pavement is used?
A. In this segment, a concrete paving machine by the name of Wirtgen, manufactured in Germany, was employed.
Q. Which cars are prohibited from using Delhi-Mumbai Expressway?
A. Motorcycles under 400cc are not allowed.
Q. How many toll stations are there between Delhi and Mumbai?
A. Between Delhi and Mumbai, there are 11 toll gates/plazas in total.
Wrapping Off
The Delhi to Mumbai Expressway is not just a mega infrastructure project, but also a symbol of India's aspirations for a modern and developed nation. The expressway is expected to improve the quality of life of millions of people by reducing travel time, increasing efficiency, and promoting economic growth. As India continues to emerge as a global economic power, the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is a significant step towards realizing the country's potential.
