From Blueprint to Reality – The Upcoming Expressways of India

From GT Road to Yamuna Expressway. Indian roads have evolved a lot, and change is the only constant visible right now. Every year, multiple projects are passed, and expressways are always among these projects. Every year, crores of funding are allotted to build the large multi-lane expressways, and these expressways are needed to be known by the people so that their traveling time can be saved. In the article, we will talk about Indian Expressways that have made journeys easier and worth enjoying.

India is a developing country, and so is its road network. The country has the world's third-largest road network. The USA and China are ranked first and second, respectively. The Indian Road network is rapidly expanding, and India may soon overtake the United States and China to take first place.

With its national highways, major roads, overpasses, and expressways, India's road system links every large city to the smallest town. The government is ensuring that all amenities, such as SOS booths, Surveillance cameras, speed measurement, and ambulance and police services, are provided along the upcoming expressways. India may soon employ the concept of the internet of things to improve the convenience and safety of road travel. Using technology such as artificial intelligence and big data will make travel efficient and safer.

Today, India has more focus on making everything world-class, and expressways are the prime focus currently. The reflection of this focus can be seen in the existing expressways as well as the upcoming expressways projects. We have a list of some of the most amazing Indian expressways that exist and a list of some upcoming expressway projects in India.

What is an Expressway?

An expressway is a road that is specifically designed for high-speed vehicles. Ramps control the entries and exits of such roads, which are constructed, so no other expressway traverses. This is done to avoid screw-ups. A grade separation, ramps, elevated portion, and lane dividers are all part of an expressway. In India, expressways typically have 6 or 12 lanes.

The Agra Lucknow Expressway, which is 302 kilometers long, is currently the longest operational expressway in India.

Let’s know about the upcoming Hitech expressways in India.

Expressways of India

All travel aficionados, make sure to enjoy these expressways when they are fully operational. With that being said, it is time to know about these expressways.

Dwarka Expressway

This expressway does a fantastic job of joining Kherki Daula Toll Plaza in Haryana to Mahipalpur in Delhi. This expressway is the first 8-lane expressway that just upped the transport system in India. The main purpose of building this expressway is to reduce the traffic on NH-8, which is currently being used by almost 3 lakh passengers daily. It is a 29.10-kilometer-long project, with 18.9 kilometers in Gurgaon & 10.1 kilometers in Delhi. An Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) is used on the expressway to provide timely information, slowdowns, speed, traffic crashes, diversions, route changes, and work zone areas. In addition, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has suggested a metro route all along the expressway, which is currently being reviewed.

• Project Cost – INR 8,662 Cr
• Expressway length – 29.10 km
• No. if lanes – 8 plus a local lane
• Completion deadline – 2022

Delhi-Mumbai Expressway

Delhi-Mumbai expressway is a part of the Bharatmala Pariyojna. This expressway is a part of phase 1 that has a stretch of about 1350 km. NHAI is determined to finish this expressway by 2023. Do you know what is so special about this expressway? You will find trauma centers every 100 km on this expressway. In addition to that, it will also have 93 rest stops along the entire route. Creativity and innovation step one level up. To prevent Indian wildlife from getting disturbed, the sound of instrumental music is to be used as sirens and horns. Along with that, the expressway will have 12 helipads between Delhi and Mumbai.

• 4 helipads in Dausa.
• 6 helipads in Sawai Madhopur
• 2 in Kota

These helipads would be used for medical situations, defense operations, and other purposes. When the expressway opens, the distance between Mumbai and Delhi will be covered in 12.5 hours. This Expressway will be the most hi-tech and innovative Indian expressway to exist.

• The total project cost is Rs 1 lakh crore.
• Total project length: 1350 km
• Lanes: 8, expandable to 12 Speed Limit: 120 km/h
• Date of completion: 2023
• NHAI owns the expressway.

Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway

Samruddhi Mahamarg, or the Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway, will link 390 rural areas and ten districts over a 701-kilometer stretch. It will connect Nagpur, Bhiwandi, Aurangabad, Nashik, Kalyan, Shirdi, and Wardha. The expressway guarantees to cut travel time between Mumbai & Nagpur to eight hours. Currently, it takes 14-15 hours to travel from Nagpur to Mumbai and vice versa. It is one of its highways, with a legal speed of 150km/hr. The expressway was supposed to open in 2021, but due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is postponing it.

• The project's estimated cost is Rs 55,000 crores.
• Project length: 701 km
• Lanes: 6 lanes
• The completion date is December 2021. (Delayed)
• MSRDC is the highway authority

Ganga Expressway

The Ganga Expressway is a 6-lane highway venture that would link up Meerut's NH 334 to the Prayagraj Bypass on NH 2. This expressway will cut the travel time between Meerut & Prayagraj from 12 hours to 6 hours. It begins in Meerut's Bijoli village and ends in Prayagraj's Judapur Dandu village. Prayagraj, Unnao, Sambhal, Meerut, Chandausi, Tilhar, Bangarmau, Budaun, Raebareli, Hapur, and Siyana are among the major cities covered. When completed, it will be India's longest expressway.

• This has to be one of the best expressways in India.
• Total project cost: Rs 40,000 crores
• Length of the project: 594 km
• Lanes: 6, can be expanded up to 8 lanes
• Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority owns this expressway.
• Completion date: 2024

Bangalore-Chennai Expressway

It is a major new expressway in southern India. This four-lane expressway links Bangalore and Chennai, the capital cities of two central-southern Indian states. The stretch connects Hoskote & Bangarpet in Karnataka, Palamaner, Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh, and Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu for 260 kilometers. It will shorten the distance by 50 kilometers and allow vehicles to travel at a speed of 120 kilometers per hour.

• The total project cost is Rs 17,000 crore.
• Total Project Length: 260.85 km
• Lanes: 4, can be expanded to 8
• The completion deadline has not yet been announced.
• NHAI is in charge of this expressway.

Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway

The Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway is 650 kilometers long. It connects Delhi's Bahadurgarh border with Jammu and Kashmir's Katra. Nokadar, Amritsar, and Gurdaspur are among the major cities to be covered. This four-lane expressway also promotes religious tourism by connecting two Hindu and Sikh holy towns, Mata Vaishno Devi Temple & Golden Temple. On the expressway, facilities such as trauma centers for emergency cases, ambulances on call, nearby fire departments, recreation centers, traffic police, bus hangars, truck stops, and diners are built.

• Phase 1 Project Cost: Rs 25,000 crore
• Project length: 650 km (approx.),
• length of the main expressway: 550 km (approx.)
• Lanes: 4, can be expanded up to 8
• Date of completion: October 2023
• The National Highway Authority of India is in charge.

Ahmedabad Dholera Expressway

The Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway was confirmed in 2010, but it only received approval in 2019. This four-lane expressway links Sarkhej's Sardar Patel Ring Road to Navagam's Dholera International Airport. It also provides a link to the Dholera Special Investment Zone (SIR). The land purchase for this 109-kilometer-long expressway as a portion of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Project was completed in 2020. Sadbhav Engineering, GVH India, and DRA Infracon are building the expressway.

• The total project cost is Rs 3,000 crores (approx)
• The total length of the project is 109.019 kilometers.
• Lanes: 4 lanes
• Date of completion: March 2023
• NHAI is in charge.
• The project model followed is EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction)

Bundelkhand Expressway

The Bundelkhand Expressway is a 4-lane expressway that helps connect the Gonda village in Chitrakoot district and Kudrail in Etawah. It intends to connect Bundelkhand to the Delhi NCR via the Yamuna Expressway. It is a 296-kilometer access-controlled expressway with an estimated cost of Rs 14,716 crores.

• The total project cost is Rs 14,716 crores.
• Total project length: 296.070 km
• Lanes: 4, expandable to 6
• The completion date is 2022.

Raipur-Visakhapatnam Expressway

This 6-lane expressway, which is part of the Raipur-Visakhapatnam corridor, is 464 kilometers long (NH-130CD and EC-15). It follows the red corridor through the central & east-central Indian states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh. The travel time will decrease from 14 hours to 7 hours. The distance will also be decreased from 590 km to 464 km.

• The project's total cost is Rs 20,000 crores.
• Total project length: 464.662 km
• Lanes: 6
• The completion date is 2025.
• NHAI is the owner.
• The Hybrid Annuity Model is the project model (HAM)

Purvanchal Expressway

Purvanchal Expressway is a 343-kilometer highway that runs from Lucknow's Chand Sarai village to Ghazipur. It passes through key districts such as Barabanki, Sultanpur, Amethi, Ambedkarnagar Mau, and Ayodhya. Religious tourism is also promoted in cities such as Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Gorakhpur.

• The project's total cost is Rs 22,496 crores.
• Total project length: 340.824 km
• Lanes: 6 lanes
• The completion date is 2021. (delayed)
• The project model: EPC

Also Read: A beautiful Journey of Corporate Social Responsibility in India

FAQs Related to Indian Expressways

Which is India's longest expressway?
The Agra Lucknow Expressway is currently the longest expressway in India; however, once completed, the Delhi Mumbai Expressway will be the longest.

Which expressway promotes religious tourism?
By connecting the Golden Temple and Mata Vaishno Devi Temple, the Delhi Amritsar Katra Expressway promotes tourism.

The Greenfield Expressway includes which expressway?
The Ganga Expressway is a greenfield expressway. The project was built by UPEIDA (the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority).