Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, said on Wednesday that nearly 80 per cent of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway has been completed at a cost of Rs 1.10 lakh crore, and the remaining work is progressing rapidly. He added that within the next two years, commuters will be able to travel from Delhi to Nariman Point and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai in just 12 hours.
Addressing a public gathering near the Dara Tunnel in Kota after inspecting a 90-km stretch of the expressway from the Laban Interchange in Bundi to Kota, Gadkari said, "We deliver what we promise. That is our hallmark." Union Minister Gadkari was accompanied by the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.
Highlighting the broader impact of the expressway, Gadkari said it would serve as a catalyst for economic growth rather than merely a transportation corridor. According to Union Minister Gadkari, the highway will attract industries, logistics parks, educational institutions, medical colleges and agro-based enterprises, creating employment opportunities and driving development in regions along its route.
Addressing Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Gadkari remarked, "You may get tired of asking, but I will never tire of giving. There is no shortage of funds for National Highway projects. Ask for Rs 10,000 crore, Rs 50,000 crore or even Rs 2 lakh crore."
He also joked that had time permitted, he would have sanctioned Rs 50,000 crore worth of projects for Rajasthan during the visit. "Next time I come to Jaipur, I have a signed chequebook ready, you only need to fill in the amount," he said. During his inspection, Gadkari reviewed construction work on Packages 11 to 16 of the expressway and later interacted with officials at the Pinan wayside amenities in Alwar district.
He directed officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the police to strengthen patrolling on the expressway and strictly prevent trucks from being parked haphazardly along the route, stressing that road safety must remain a priority.
The Union Minister also announced two major infrastructure projects for the Kota region. A 10-km Mukundra bypass will be constructed on NH-52 at an estimated cost of Rs 551 crore, while a 21-km highway via Manpura, costing around Rs 1,000 crore, will directly connect Kota with the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, improving regional connectivity and reducing travel time.
Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said that Union Minister Gadkari had visited Rajasthan to inspect the construction of the Mukundra Tunnel on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. He described the tunnel as a remarkable engineering achievement, noting that building such infrastructure through the plateau terrain was a significant accomplishment.
He added that the expressway has been designed with comprehensive safety features, including advanced ventilation systems. The Chief Minister thanked Gadkari for fulfilling the infrastructure commitments made to Rajasthan and congratulated him on the successful execution of major highway projects in the state.
He also highlighted the Rajasthan government's investment of nearly Rs 5,000 crore in the development of Kota district over the past two-and-a-half years. Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Sharma said Kota has earned national recognition as India's premier coaching hub, while also praising Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for enhancing the city's stature through his leadership and public service.
Ahead of Gadkari's visit, NHAI officials and contractors undertook extensive maintenance work along the Delhi-to-Kota stretch of the expressway, carrying out repairs and beautification to ensure the route was inspection-ready.
The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, one of India's largest infrastructure projects, is expected to significantly improve connectivity between northern and western India while boosting trade, logistics and economic development across multiple states.