The country’s longest 1350-km expressway between Mumbai and Delhi that will reduce the commute time between the two metros to 12 hours is set to be completed by January 2023.
The project spans across the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra and is being constructed at a cost of Rs 90,000 crore.
The expressway has eight lanes currently but it has enough space left on both sides to be expanded to 12 lanes. As many as two million trees and shrubs will be planted on the entire stretch and it will be watered through drip irrigation.
Power supply will be drawn from both state grids and solar energy to light up the entire freeway. A proposition to establish green fuel stations and hydrogen fuel pumps in this project is being considered whereas the expressway is set to have scores of resorts, food courts, restaurants and fuel stations on 93 locations.
For a first, helipads and comprehensive trauma centres will be built for the victims of accidents. The project came with a mounting challenge of acquiring around 15,000 hectares of land and fortunately almost 90 per cent of that work is already completed in record time.
Even the adjoining concern such as compensating farmers was resolved conveniently through the digital medium. The expressway is slated to generate 19,000 man-years of employment and also save in excess of 320 million litres of fuel yearly.
“We have January 2023 as the deadline for the entire stretch and there will be no compromise,” one of the concerned officers associated with the project told the Times of India.