India’s road and highway infrastructure has witnessed significant growth in recent years as the government continues prioritizing and investing in developing a stable transportation network. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has been working to build a better and faster road and expressway infrastructure to boost connectivity.
With an expansive road network spanning thousands of kilometers, India’s infrastructure plays a crucial role in connecting cities, towns, and rural areas, facilitating the movement of people, goods, and services across the country.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has started several expressway projects under the ambitious Bharatmala Pariyojana initiative, intending to enhance safety and efficiency on the roads of India.
Advanced features like CCTV cameras, devices to measure temperature and speed, and SOS booths and assistance lines will be installed in the upcoming projects. The Union Minister has even said that India’s road infrastructure will be similar to that of the US by the end of 2024.
The ongoing expansion and improvement projects aim to enhance connectivity, reduce travel time, promote economic growth, and ensure smoother and safer journeys for commuters. In this article, let us explore India’s top five upcoming expressways.
This expressway will connect India’s financial capital, Mumbai, to the national capital, Delhi, in just 12 hours and is projected to be India’s longest highway, stretching 1,386km.
It will also improve connectivity to Jaipur, Kishangarh, Ajmer, Kota, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Bhopal, Ujjain, Indore, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and Surat. The total estimated cost of constructing this expressway is around Rs 1 lakh crore.
The Ganga Expressway is a massive project underway in Uttar Pradesh. The expressway has a total span of 1047km, out of which 594km has been approved by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
This expressway will run parallel to the Ganga River, connecting major cities in Uttar Pradesh, such as Prayagraj, Meerut, Unnao, Budaun, Sambhal, Chandausi, Tilhar, Bangarmau, Raebareli, Hapur, and Siyana.
This new expressway project will connect Jammu and Kashmir’s Katra, home to the revered Vaishno Devi shrine, with the national capital Delhi. The expressway spans over 648km, and this four-lane expressway will provide a faster and more convenient route for travelers.
Once operational, it will enable people to reach destinations like Amritsar, Nokadar, and Gurdaspur in a shorter time. Apart from the pilgrims, the expressway will also contribute to the growth of tourism in the area.
The upcoming Bangalore-Chennai Expressway will link the two busy cities. Known for business and technology in South India, this high-speed corridor will significantly improve the connection between the two cities and make travel and goods transportation faster and more efficient.
The upcoming Mumbai-Nagpur expressway is set to enhance travel in the region. With a total length of 700km, this expressway will significantly reduce the travel time between the two cities to just eight hours.
The expressway consists of 5 flyovers, 33 major bridges, 274 minor bridges, eight railway overbridges, 25 interchanges, six tunnels, 189 underpasses, 110 underpasses for light vehicles, 209 underpasses for animal and pedestrians, eight underpasses, and eight overpasses for wildlife movement.
As these expressways are near completion, India is on the cusp of a transportation revolution, paving the way for a brighter and more connected future. These ambitious projects will provide seamless travel experiences, support regional development, enhance trade and tourism, and create employment opportunities.
