Delhi-Mumbai Expressway 80% complete at ₹1.10 lakh crore, 12-hour travel by 2027: Gadkari
Synopsis
With 80 per cent of the ₹1.10 lakh crore Delhi-Mumbai Expressway now complete, Nitin Gadkari has put a firm two-year deadline on a 12-hour Delhi-to-Mumbai journey — and sweetened the visit with ₹1,551 crore in new road projects for Kota. The corridor's ambition goes beyond speed: it is being positioned as an economic spine for northern and western India.
Key Takeaways
Nitin Gadkari confirmed 80 per cent completion of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway at a cost of ₹1.10 lakh crore on 8 July .
Full Delhi-to-Mumbai travel in 12 hours (including Nariman Point and Jawaharlal Nehru Port) is expected within two years .
A 10-km Mukundra bypass on NH-52 worth ₹551 crore and a 21-km Manpura highway worth ₹1,000 crore were announced for Kota .
Gadkari inspected Packages 11 to 16 covering a 90-km stretch from Laban Interchange in Bundi to Kota.
Rajasthan has invested nearly ₹5,000 crore in Kota district over the past two-and-a-half years, according to Chief Minister Sharma.
NHAI directed to strengthen patrolling and enforce truck-parking discipline along the expressway.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday, 8 July confirmed that nearly 80 per cent of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway has been completed at a total cost of ₹1.10 lakh crore, with remaining construction progressing at pace. Speaking at a public gathering near the Dara Tunnel in Kota, Rajasthan, Gadkari said commuters will be able to travel from Delhi to Nariman Point and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai in just 12 hours within the next two years.
Inspection and Key Announcements
Gadkari conducted an on-ground inspection of a 90-km stretch of the expressway, covering Packages 11 to 16 from the Laban Interchange in Bundi to Kota. He was accompanied by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma. Following the inspection, the minister interacted with officials at the Pinan wayside amenities in Alwar district.
Gadkari also announced two significant infrastructure additions for the Kota region: a 10-km Mukundra bypass on NH-52 at an estimated cost of ₹551 crore, and a 21-km highway via Manpura costing approximately ₹1,000 crore that will directly link Kota to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.
Beyond a Road: The Economic Vision
Gadkari framed the expressway as a driver of economic transformation rather than a mere transport corridor. According to the minister, the highway is expected to attract industries, logistics parks, educational institutions, medical colleges, and agro-based enterprises along its route, generating employment and spurring regional development across multiple states.
Addressing Chief Minister Sharma directly, Gadkari said, 'You may get tired of asking, but I will never tire of giving. There is no shortage of funds for National Highway projects. Ask for ₹10,000 crore, ₹50,000 crore or even ₹2 lakh crore.' He added that had time permitted, he would have sanctioned ₹50,000 crore worth of projects for Rajasthan during the visit alone.
Safety and Road Discipline Directives
During the inspection, Gadkari directed officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the police to strengthen patrolling along the expressway and strictly prevent trucks from parking haphazardly on the route, stressing that road safety must remain a priority throughout the project's rollout.
Rajasthan's Stake and State Government Response
Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma described the Mukundra Tunnel — which runs through plateau terrain — as a remarkable engineering achievement and thanked Gadkari for fulfilling infrastructure commitments made to the state. Sharma also highlighted that the Rajasthan government has invested nearly ₹5,000 crore in the development of Kota district over the past two-and-a-half years. He noted that Kota has earned national recognition as India's premier coaching hub and praised Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for the city's growing stature.
Ahead of the ministerial visit, NHAI officials and contractors carried out extensive maintenance, repairs, and beautification along the Delhi-to-Kota stretch to ensure the route was inspection-ready. The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, one of India's largest-ever infrastructure undertakings, is expected to transform connectivity between northern and western India while boosting trade and logistics across the states it traverses.
Point of View
Large funding pledges, and a headline travel-time target. The 12-hour Delhi-Mumbai claim is aspirational: it hinges on completing the remaining 20 per cent of a corridor that has already taken years and ₹1.10 lakh crore. The more consequential question is whether the economic corridor vision — industries, logistics parks, medical colleges along the route — will materialise or remain promotional framing. India's highway programme has a strong record on construction but a mixed one on induced economic development. The Kota announcements, totalling ₹1,551 crore, arriving alongside a Lok Sabha Speaker from the constituency, also invite scrutiny of how project prioritisation decisions are made along mega-corridors.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current status of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway?
As of 8 July, approximately 80 per cent of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway has been completed at a cost of ₹1.10 lakh crore, according to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. The remaining work is progressing rapidly, with full completion expected within two years.
How long will it take to travel from Delhi to Mumbai on the expressway?
Once complete, the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is expected to reduce travel time to just 12 hours between Delhi and Nariman Point or the Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai. This timeline is projected within the next two years.
What new projects were announced for Kota during Gadkari's visit?
Gadkari announced a 10-km Mukundra bypass on NH-52 at an estimated cost of ₹551 crore and a 21-km highway via Manpura costing around ₹1,000 crore. The Manpura highway will directly connect Kota to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.
What stretch of the expressway did Gadkari inspect?
Gadkari inspected a 90-km stretch covering Packages 11 to 16 of the expressway, running from the Laban Interchange in Bundi to Kota in Rajasthan. He was accompanied by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.
What is the broader economic impact expected from the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway?
According to Gadkari, the expressway is designed to act as an economic catalyst, attracting industries, logistics parks, educational institutions, medical colleges, and agro-based enterprises along its route. It is expected to generate employment and boost development across the multiple states it passes through.
