Delhi-Mumbai Expressway Faces Another Delay
24 Dec 2024 CW Team
Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, which is expected to cut down travel time between two major Indian cities to 12 hours, faces further delays in its completion. Minister of State (MoS) for Road Transport and Highways, Harsh Malhotra, said the entire expressway will now only be completed in 2026. The much-awaited expressway, which was initially expected to be completed by January 2023, has faced repeated delays due to technical and logistical hurdles.
MoS Harsh Malhotra cited land acquisition issues as a significant factor behind the delays. "Work is progressing, but technical and practical problems, especially involving land acquisition from the general public, have caused setbacks," he said. The project was initially launched in March 2019 and has seen multiple revisions to its deadline.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also acknowledged challenges in constructing the Delhi-Vadodara section, revealing that experts from IIT Kharagpur are investigating damages in certain areas of the Sohna-Dausa section caused by heavy monsoon rains. Contractors are repairing these damages at their own cost, with strict action promised against any faults identified.