Explained: Delhi-Mumbai expressway is a gamechanger - here's why

Delhi-Mumbai Expressway: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, February 12 inaugurated the first phase of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Dausa. The Delhi-Dausa-Lalsot stretch is a 246-km long and is worth more than Rs 12,150 crore.

A total of four projects including the first phase of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway were inaugurated by PM Modi today. He pressed the button on the remote and laid foundation stones/inaugurated projects worth over Rs 18,000 crore.

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Union MoS V K Singh, Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and other leaders were present during the function.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar addressed the programme through a video link.

Why it matters?

The Delhi-Dausa-Lalsot section has been constructed to significantly reduce the travel time between the cities of the country.

With the opening of the new section of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, the travel time between India's two most important cities - the political capital Delhi and the financial capital Mumbai - has been reduced by 12 per cent from 1,424 km to 1,242 km. 

This means that the total travel time will be reduced by 50 per cent. At present, the time taken to cover this distance is 24 hours which is expected to come down to 12 hours with the completion of this expressway.

The prime minister said the 264-kilometer section between Jaipur and Delhi will reduce the travel time by half. The distance which used to took more than five hours will now be covered in around three-and-a-half hours.

How will the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway help boost economic growth?

The newly inaugurated Delhi-Mumbai expressway is an engine of growth, development, and connectivity in "New India". The expressway will pass through Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra and connect major cities like Kota, Indore, Jaipur, Bhopal, Vadodara and Surat.

It will also serve 93 PM Gati Shakti Economic Nodes, 13 ports, eight major airports and several multi-modal logistics parks (MMLPs) along with the new upcoming greenfield airports such as Jewar Airport, Navi Mumbai Airport and JNPT port.

Also Read: Delhi to Mumbai Expressway PHOTOS: PM Modi inaugurates Sohna to Dausa stretch - Check route map, entry and exit points

This will help in increasing the income of the cities on both sides of the highway. Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat, Haryana, and Mumbai are already known for their tourism sector and this new expressway will attract new investments and increase the demand for tourism, real estate, and others.

Founder and Chairman of Signature Global (India) Ltd Pradeep Aggarwal said that the opening up of the Sohna-Dausa stretch of Delhi–Mumbai expressway will add a new dimension to Gurugram real estate, especially Sohna market. 

"Sohna is already a developing market, and the new expressway will attract investments and enhance demand for real estate both residential and commercial," he said.

The expressway will also benefit the Sariska National Park, Keoladeo National Park, Ranthambore National Park as well as cities such as Jaipur and Ajmer. 

The PMO said it will have a catalytic impact in the developmental trajectory of all adjoining regions, thus contributing in a major way in the economic transformation of the country.

"The operationalisation of the Gurgaon - Dausa stretch of the Mumbai-Delhi Expressway this month which will further be extended to Mumbai later on, can potentially change the landscape of Sohna Town. It will not only reduce the commute time but will also give the required impetus to various economic drivers like industries, warehousing & logistics which may generate demand drivers for residential, commercial, and retail sectors. The Gurgaon – Dausa stretch passing through Sohna can potentially change the growth nodes of Gurgaon. It will not be surprising if Sohna emerges as the most significant satellite town of Gurgaon," said Arvind Rai, Director, Valuation Services, Colliers India.