New Delhi: The work on the 1,380 km Delhi-Mumbai expressway, India’s longest, is in full swing. A greenfield (new) alignment, the expressway, being built at an estimated cost of Rs 98,000 crore is targeted for completion by March 2023.
Once complete, it will reduce the travel time between Delhi and Mumbai from the current 24 hours to 12 hours.
The first phase of the expressway comprising 214 km from Delhi-Jaipur (Dausa) — Lalsot and another 100 km between Vadodara — Ankleshwar is expected to be opened to traffic by March 2022.
So far 375+ km stretch has been completed while 1200+ km length has been awarded.
The project was conceptualised in March 2018 while the foundation stone was laid by Union highways minister Nitin Gadkari on 9 March 2019.
Because it’s a greenfield alignment, the total land acquisition cost of the Delhi-Mumbai expressway is approximately 25 per cent of the total project cost, way cheaper than brownfield expressways.
What is being done to protect the movement of wildlife?
The expressway will have an animal overpass for unrestricted movement of wildlife
An eight-lane tunnel will be built in Mukundra sanctuary and Matheran eco sensitive zone to reduce the impact on wildlife.
An eight metre tall boundary wall and a dedicated sound barrier will be constructed for the safety of animals.