Delhi-Mumbai Expressway Nears Completion; New 15 km Morbe-Kalamboli Link To Cut JNPA Travel Time

The final phase of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Maharashtra is approaching completion, with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) planning to open the Talasari to Raite section by April 2026. While the Talasari to Morbe stretch covers 156 kilometres, it cannot be fully operational yet due to the absence of a direct connection to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA).

To address this gap, NHAI has decided to construct a new 15-kilometre link between Morbe and the Kalamboli junction, directly connecting the expressway to the port. Officials told Loksatta that the alignment for this link has been finalised, and work will commence once design approvals are secured. The project is expected to cost approximately Rs 9,000 crore.

Delay in the MSRDC Corridor

Initially, the expressway was supposed to connect to JNPA via the Virar-to-Alibaug multi-purpose corridor under the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). However, the project has remained on paper and encountered fresh delays following the issuance of a new tender. These delays have increased pressure on NHAI to establish a functional port link for efficient freight movement.

Partial Opening of the Highway

Construction on the Talasari-to-Morbe section is progressing quickly and is expected to be completed early next year. However, due to the missing connection beyond Morbe, NHAI will initially open only the Talasari-to-Raite stretch, covering roughly 140 kilometres. Vehicles will still need to take a longer detour from Raite to reach JNPA, taking nearly an hour.

New Link to Significantly Reduce Travel Time

According to NHAI Regional Manager Anshumali Srivastava, the new Morbe-to-Kalamboli connector will cut travel time to JNPA to just 20-25 minutes. He emphasised that the project has gained urgency due to the delays in the MSRDC corridor and is expected to be recognised as the "missing link" of the expressway.