• Source:JND
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Delhi-Mumbai Expressway Project: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is preparing to open the Kota-Delhi stretch of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway soon after Diwali this year. Officials said that the section is almost ready, with only final works remaining.

The ambitious expressway project, which started in 2019, was originally expected to be completed by 2023, but the full route is now projected to be finished by 2026.

Delhi- Mumbai Expressway: Mumbai Link Expected Next Year

The Times Of India report cited officials as stating that, the delay in connecting the expressway directly to Mumbai is due to the construction of a 4.9-km tunnel passing through the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve, work on which will begin only after February 2026.

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An NHAI official said, “Work on Package 10, covering a 26.5-km stretch, is 95% complete. Only minor finishing work remains, and efforts are being made to open the stretch on schedule.”

Delhi- Mumbai Expressway: Current Traffic And Project Challenges

At present, commuters travelling from Kota to Delhi must exit the expressway and use a 60-km two-lane road before rejoining near Sawai Madhopur, often leading to congestion. Once the new section opens, this detour will no longer be needed.

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Delays have also been attributed to the relocation of a 765-kV double-circuit power line between Anta (Baran district) and Phagi (Jaipur district), which crossed the expressway at two points. The process required planned power shutdowns, slowing down progress.

Officials said that heavy rainfall in July and August further hindered work by damaging access roads and delaying material movement.

To ensure safety, the NHAI plans to open four lanes initially out of the eight-lane expressway following a final safety audit.