Delhi-Mumbai Expressway: World’s Longest

In Context

• World’s longest expressway between Delhi and Mumbai to be opened in March 2023.

About the Project

• It is a  1380-km eight-lane expressway; it  can be expanded to a 12-lane expressway depending on the volume of traffic.
• It passes through Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
• Completion schedule: The first phase from Delhi-Jaipur and Vadodara-Ankleshwar is expected to be open by March 2022.

Image Courtesy: TOI

India’s first Expressway

• The 94.5-kilometre long Mumbai-Pune Expressway, which began operating in 2002, was India’s first expressway.

Significance

• Promote industrial growth: The project brings Mewat region in the industrial map of the country and it also links most important freight centres of the country.
• Addresses environmental concerns: With the completion of the projects, air pollution in Delhi NCR will reduce and also solve the problem of traffic jams.
• Animal friendly: The expressway is the first in Asia and only the second in the world to feature animal overpasses to facilitate unrestricted movement of wildlife.
• Development and employment opportunities 

Source: TOI