India Invests US$13bn to Build Country’s Longest Highway Connecting New Delhi & Mumbai

• Sommana Yan
• 13 February 2023
• International News
• 2721 Views

India officially broke ground on the first stage of its longest expressway, a route linking Delhi and Mumbai, as it makes a concerted infrastructure push to catch up with its geopolitical rival China. 

The expressway project is a new 1,386-kilometre four-lane road with a total budget of US$13bn which will eventually cut the road travel time between the country’s two biggest cities in half, to 12 hours. 

Expected to be operational by 2024, the expressway will pass through Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra. 

Speaking at a ground-breaking ceremony, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was a “sign of developing India”, adding that “such investments in railways, highways, subway lines and airports are key to pushing the country’s growth rate, attracting more investments and creating fresh jobs”. 

New Delhi has expedited many key projects, and this month Modi’s government announced an unprecedented 33% increase in infrastructure spending. 

Modi is expected to inaugurate at least a dozen major railways, highways, expressways and port projects in the next few months. 

• Projects Development
• Road and Infrastructure