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
