Know The Key Points About The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway With PM Modi Opening The Vadodara Stretch For Public

Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked a significant milestone in India's infrastructure development by inaugurating the Vadodara stretch of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway on 2nd October, bringing the project one step closer to completion. This stretch now allows travelers to journey between Delhi and Vadodara in just 10 hours.

The Vadodara stretch joins the ranks of previously opened sections, including a 202 km stretch between Sohna-Dausa and a 244 km section in Madhya Pradesh. The entire 1,386 km corridor is slated for completion by 2024.

When fully operational, this ambitious project will substantially reduce road travel time between India's national capital, Delhi, and its financial hub, Mumbai, cutting the journey time in half to approximately 12 hours. This transformation is set to cut cross-country travel, making it much more efficient than the current 24-hour trip. The expressway traverses several states, including 79 km in Haryana, 373 km in Rajasthan, and 244 km in Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat as per a News18 report.

Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari had shared pictures of the Vadodara-Virar stretch in January on his social media handle X saying, "Stunning views from Vadodara-Virar Section of Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. Limiting the distance for prosperous India."

Key Points About the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway:

Six-State Passage: This expressway spans six Indian states, namely Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.

Record Investment: Valued at ₹1 lakh crore, it stands as India's longest expressway project.

Ongoing Progress: Over 1,200 km of the expressway has already been awarded and is under construction.

Project Timeline: The project commenced in 2018, had its foundation stone laid in 2019, and is projected to be fully operational by 2024.

Time-Saver: The expressway is set to cut road travel time between Delhi and Mumbai down to 12 hours, a significant reduction.

Advanced Traffic Management System: An Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) will be implemented to manage road safety, enforce speed limits, and regulate traffic, as per the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

Strategic Connectivity: The expressway is expected to connect crucial hubs, including the Jawaharlal Nehru Port with a spur to Mumbai and the Delhi-Faridabad-Sohna section with a spur to Jewar Airport.

Enhanced Accessibility: Cities such as Jaipur, Kishangarh, Ajmer, Kota, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Bhopal, Ujjain, Indore, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and Surat are among the locations expected to benefit from the corridor.

Multifaceted Utility: The project is designed to serve 93 PM Gati Shakti Economic Nodes, 13 ports, eight major airports, and several multi-modal logistics parks (MMLPs), including upcoming greenfield airports like Jewar Airport, Navi Mumbai Airport, and JNPT port.

Vehicle Restrictions: Notably, motorcycles, scooters, three-wheelers, and tractors are likely to be prohibited from using the expressway, in line with the existing restrictions on the 246 km Delhi-Dausa-Lalsot section.

The inauguration of the Vadodara stretch signifies a significant leap forward in India's infrastructure development, aiming to provide faster, safer, and more efficient connectivity for travelers across the country.