• Source:JND
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The Delhi segment of the Dwarka Expressway is now fully constructed, with safety inspections currently in progress. Authorities are thoroughly examining fire-fighting systems, lighting and signage to ensure compliance with safety standards. These checks are expected to conclude within this month, paving the way for the expressway to be opened for traffic soon.

Once operational, the Delhi stretch is expected to reduce vehicular load on the congested Delhi-Gurugram Expressway by 25 to 30 per cent. Plans are underway to have Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally inaugurate this section following the completion of all inspections, a Jagran.com report stated.

Constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 9,000 crore, the Dwarka Expressway stretches from near the Kherki Daula toll plaza in Gurugram to the Shiv Murti junction in Mahipalpur, Delhi. To ensure timely and quality construction, the project was divided into two segments and awarded to different companies. 

While L&T completed the Gurugram section last year—now already in use—Jaikumar Infra Project Limited was responsible for the Delhi section. Due to heavy local traffic, tunnel construction in Delhi experienced delays, but both tunnels are now complete and undergoing safety tests.

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The Dwarka Expressway spans a total length of 29 kilometers, with 18.9 kilometers falling in Gurugram and 10.1 kilometers in Delhi. Of this, 23 kilometers is constructed as an elevated stretch, while approximately 4 kilometers consists of underground tunnels. It holds the distinction of being India’s first expressway with elevated roads built on a single pillar. 

The scale of construction is remarkable, with around 2 lakh metric tonnes of steel used—30 times the amount used in the Eiffel Tower—and approximately 20 lakh cubic meters of concrete, which is six times more than that used in the Burj Khalifa.

The Delhi section includes two tunnels—one from Dwarka to near the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway, and another from Shiv Murti to Palam Airport—measuring approximately four kilometers and 2.5 kilometers, respectively. Both are equipped with high-pressure water mist fire systems designed to control fires swiftly in case of emergencies.

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Experts say the expressway reflects India’s advancement in infrastructure and tunnel engineering. Former NHAI technical advisor JS Suhag noted that the world-class construction sets a precedent for similar developments in urban centers across the country, especially in Gurugram, where such solutions are needed to alleviate traffic congestion.