Jaipur’s Fast Lane to Prosperity: The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway
It is a universally acknowledged fact that the infrastructure of a country plays a huge role in propelling its economy ahead. From critically impacting several supply and demand channels to influencing international perception and investment, the role a country’s infrastructure plays cannot be understated. To attain the national objective of transforming India into a US$40 trillion economy, rapid infrastructural development is crucial.
The Indian landscape in recent years has therefore witnessed a flurry of amelioration in its built environment, with skyscrapers, progressive transit infrastructure like arterial roadways, etc. dominating its landscape. In fact, according to a recent insider report, the Indian government will be spending Rs 143 crore in the seven fiscal years between 2024 and 2030 on infrastructure, doubling its expenditure from 2017 to 2023.
One of the many impressive infrastructural undertakings embarked on by the government is the Delhi-Mumbai Motorway, a 1,350-km-long, 8-lane-wide, access-controlled expressway. The first of its kind highway in India is also proposed to include an ‘e-lane’, a lane designated especially for electric vehicles. The under-construction highway is envisioned to connect DND, the country’s national capital, Delhi, to JNPT, the country’s financial capital, Mumbai. The corridor will connect six major states—Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra—and cities like Kota, Indore, Jaipur, Bhopal, Vadodara, and Surat.
While initially the highway is proposed to be eight-laned, land for an additional four lanes has also been reserved to allow the possibility of future expansion. Planned as a part of Bharatmala Pariyojana, also known as the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, the highway is proposed to reduce the commute time between these two bustling metropolises from 24 hours to 12 hours, with a speed limit of 120 km/h.
The Sohna-Dausa part of the motorway was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi in February, reducing the commute from the National Capital Region to Jaipur to just under three hours from the previous five hours. This development is a part of the government’s expenditure of Rs 50,000 crore for building highways in the state of Rajasthan, with the year 2023’s budget allocating 10 lakh crores for infrastructure development, roughly five times more than 2014.
The inauguration of this section of the corridor is pivotal for the microeconomics of Jaipur and Delhi-NCR, as the easier commute will pave the way for an easier commute for talented employees as well as open up the Pink City to major investments globally, turning the city into a commercial hub.
So in conclusion we can say that the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, marked by the recent inauguration of the Sohna-Dausa segment, exemplifies India’s commitment to robust infrastructure for economic acceleration. This transformative project not only reduces travel time but also sparks regional economic vibrancy, underscoring its pivotal role in India’s journey towards unparalleled growth and development.
