India has been gearing up for some major developments, one of which is the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. The project, which was planned for phased completion by 2024, has been slowed mainly due to land acquisition issues, contractor delays, and execution challenges in some stretches. Scroll down to know more!
Delay In Delhi-Mumbai Expressway
The Delhi–Mumbai Expressway is a flagship infrastructure project costing ₹1.04 lakh crore. This expressway aims to improve road travel across western and northern India. It aims to cut travel time, boost connectivity, and support economic growth. The expressway stretches over 1,300 km and passes through six states.
However, a small stretch in Gujarat is now slowing down the entire project. As reported by The Indian Express, just 87 km of unfinished road has turned into a major roadblock for the expressway’s progress.
These delayed sections fall under Packages 8, 9 and 10 of the Vadodara–Virar stretch in Gujarat, Jujuwa–Gandeva, Karvad–Jujuwa and Talsari–Karvad. While the length is short, the impact is large. Even after nearly four years, less than 20% of the work on these sections has been completed, raising serious concerns about timelines.
Also Read: 520 Km Gorakhpur-Siliguri Expressway To Link UP &West Bengal; Set For 2028 Completion
More About The Delay In The Expressway
NHAI awarded all three packages in 2021 to Pune-based contractor Roadway Solutions India Infra Ltd (RSIIL). According to Times Now, while most other parts of the expressway in Gujarat moved ahead, work on these stretches remained slow. Due to poor progress, NHAI cancelled two contracts in March 2023 and invited fresh bids.
Despite earlier delays, RSIIL won the contracts again in November 2023 after quoting the lowest price. However, as the delays continued, NHAI has now started considering “cure period” notices. It means it gives the contractor a limited time to fix contract violations. Failure to do so could lead to contract termination or stricter action.
Giving the reason for delays, RSIIL has blamed the slow progress on land acquisition issues. They claimed that NHAI did not hand over the land on time. The company has also termed the earlier contract cancellations illegal, but NHAI has rejected these claims.
We hope the construction of the expressway gets completed soon!
Cover Image Courtesy: X/@Indianinfoguide