In a significant milestone for Indian infrastructure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently unveiled the first phase of the Delhi-Mumbai expressway. This article delves into the details of this remarkable development, which is of particular relevance to the UPSC current affairs section.

Delhi-Mumbai Expressway: Significance, Impact & Issues - UPSC Current Affairs
An Overview of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway

Image source: Indian Express
- The Delhi-Mumbai expressway is a game-changer, cutting down the travel time between Delhi and Jaipur to 3 hours, and Delhi and Mumbai to 12 hours – a significant reduction from the current durations.
- This remarkable expressway passes through six states - Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, and connects major cities such as Kota, Indore, Jaipur, Bhopal, Vadodara, and Surat.
- The expressway stands out as the first in India to incorporate a 21-metre median based on the principles of forgiving highways, allowing for potential expansion in the future.
- It is India’s longest 8-lane access-controlled Greenfield Expressway with potential for future expansion to 12 lanes.
- The expressway is linked to 93 PM Gati Shakti Economic Nodes, 13 Ports, 8 Major Airports, and 8 multi-modal logistics parks (MMLPs), along with spurs to new upcoming greenfield airports such as Jewar Airport, Navi Mumbai Airport, and JNPT port.
- It offers a host of wayside amenities including charging stations for electric vehicles, helipads, trauma centres, and dedicated lanes for electric vehicles.
- Furthermore, the Delhi-Mumbai expressway is the first in Asia and the second globally to include animal overpasses and wildlife crossings.
Implications and Challenges of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway
- Economic Implications: The expressway promises significant economic benefits to the regions along its route.
- The expressway will significantly enhance mobility between Delhi and Mumbai, which are major economic hubs in India.
- It is expected to catalyze industrialization and urbanization along its corridor.
- Small businesses in the states along the expressway route stand to gain from the improved movement of goods, services, and labour.
- The expressway's connectivity to the ports in Mumbai will boost international trade for hinterland states like Madhya Pradesh, UP, Bihar, Haryana, etc.
- By reducing travel time, the expressway will also bring down the cost of freight traffic, making it a competitive alternative to other modes of transport like the railways.
- Environmental Considerations:
- The expressway is expected to reduce fuel consumption and consequently decrease Greenhouse Gas ( GHG ) emissions.
- However, it also passes through ecologically sensitive conservation areas like Ranthambore National Park, Mukundra Tiger Reserve, etc.
- The potential impact of road traffic, pollution, and deforestation for the expressway could pose a threat to the habitat of many endangered species.
- Social Impact:
- The expressway could bring prosperity to the neighbouring states, which are mostly dependent on agriculture, such as Haryana, Rajasthan, etc.
- Land Acquisition Challenges: The process of land acquisition for the project could potentially push farmers in the region towards poverty and exploitation due to loss of land.
Conclusion: The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, by bringing the political and financial capitals of India closer, promises to spur economic growth and development not just in the regions along its route, but across the country in the long run.
Related Links | |||
Ranthambore National Park | Good Governance | ||
PM Gati Shakti | Road Projects of India | ||
Setu Bharatam Project | National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) |
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