PM Modi inaugurates first stretch of Delhi-Mumbai Expressway; here's all you need to know

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated a 246-km stretch of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway; the Delhi-Dausa-Lalsot section is set to reduce the travel time from the national capital to Jaipur from five hours to around three and a half hours.

"People who travel to Delhi for work can now come back to home in the evening after finishing their task," said the Prime Minister during the inauguration.

The Prime Minister also added that rural 'haats' are being developed around the expressway where the local artisans can sell their wares.

The first completed stretch of the mammoth expressway is part of the government's Golden Quadrilateral project that aims to span the length and breadth of the country.

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Union MoS V K Singh, Union minister Gajendra Singh and other leaders were present on the stage at the function. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar addressed the programme through a video link.


Costing over Rs 12,150 crore, the first stretch is the precursor to the 1,386 km Delhi-Mumbai connection.

Here's what you need to know about the Expressway:

• The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is set to be the longest in India at 1,386 km.
• The roadway is aimed at cutting down the distance between Delhi and Mumbai by 12%, from 1,424 km to 1,242 km
• Travel time is expected to go down by 50%, making a trip possible in 12 hours.
• The expressway will pass through six states - Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra - while connecting major cities like Kota, Indore, Jaipur, Bhopal, Vadodara and Surat.
• This project will have pathways to 93 PM Gati Shakti Economic Nodes, 13 ports, eight major airports and eight multi-modal logistics parks (MMLPs).
• Also connected will be the upcoming greenfield airports in Jewar and Navi Mumbai.