Delhi-Mumbai Expressway Completion Likely Delayed to 2027.

The completion of the entire Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is expected to be delayed by at least two more years due to construction setbacks on several stretches, particularly in Gujarat. Three sections, spanning a total of 87 km in the state, have seen significant delays. One 35-km section has reported no physical progress, while the other two have recorded only 7% and 35% completion, respectively.

The 1,382-km expressway was divided into multiple packages for simultaneous construction, with an initial deadline set for March 2024. This was later revised to October 2025. However, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Harsh Malhotra recently suggested the project would be completed in 2026, citing logistical and land acquisition challenges as key factors in the delay.

Industry sources indicate that given the typical timeline for highway construction, the delayed 35-km section in Gujarat may only be completed by February 2027. The three affected packages have been awarded to a single highway builder.

Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari reviewed the project’s progress on Tuesday with senior officials from NHAI and the ministry, urging them to accelerate work. The expressway, spanning Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, aims to cut travel time between Delhi and Mumbai to just 12 hours upon completion.

Sources indicate that the Haryana section is fully operational, and all packages in Rajasthan are expected to be traffic-ready by March-April 2026. “By March next year, travelers will be able to drive non-stop from Delhi to Vadodara using the expressway. Efforts are underway to expedite the delayed works in Gujarat,” an official stated.

Meanwhile, all expressway packages in Maharashtra, except the 21-km link to Jawaharlal Nehru Port, are likely to be completed by the end of this year.

ET