Delhi-Mumbai Expressway completion pushed to 2028 due to delays
The project's southern packages are facing slow progress, extending the timeline for the full continuous route from its original 2024 target.
The full completion of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is now expected in 2028, according to a report by Business Today citing DeshGujarat. The project's original completion target was 2024.
Road Minister Nitin Gadkari told the Rajya Sabha on March 25 that 929 km of the 1,445 km project scope was operational. This represents approximately 64 per cent of the total scope, which includes connecting spurs.
While motorists can currently drive from Delhi to Thandla in Madhya Pradesh without a break, the route is not yet continuous. The Limkheda-Godhra section in Gujarat, measuring about 55 km, opened in October.
A 30 km stretch known as Package 26, located between Limkheda and the Madhya Pradesh border, is the remaining gap in that section. Work on Package 26 is expected to finish by December 2026 or January 2027.
Progress is slower on Packages 8, 9 and 10 between Gandeva and the Maharashtra border. As of April, these were reported at approximately 5 per cent, 10 per cent and 42-43 per cent complete. The original contract for Package 8 was terminated and a new tender was issued.
Gadkari attributed delays mainly to contractors. The sanctioned cost for the project is ₹96,547 crore, with ₹77,558 crore spent by December 2025. The completed route is intended to reduce travel time between Delhi and Mumbai from 24 hours to 12 hours.