+
Panipat-Delhi Airport Travel To Shrink To 30 Minutes
AVIATION & AIRPORTS

Panipat-Delhi Airport Travel To Shrink To 30 Minutes

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has announced that by the end of 2025, the travel time from Panipat in Haryana to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport will be reduced from three hours to under 30 minutes. This development is part of a large-scale infrastructure overhaul under the Modi government’s urban decongestion plan, with over Rs 1.2 trillion (approx. USD 14.4 billion) worth of projects already completed or underway in the National Capital Region.

Gadkari highlighted the readiness of Urban Extension Road-2 (UER-2), including completed tunnel links to the airport, awaiting the Prime Minister’s official inauguration. He emphasised the goal of freeing Delhi from congestion and pollution, calling it the “heart of the country”.

The government’s infrastructure vision includes the completion of the Delhi-Dehradun and Delhi-Jaipur access-controlled corridors by December. An additional Rs 250–300 billion in projects is also planned in coordination with the Delhi government.

Beyond mobility, Gadkari stressed economic transformation through logistics cost reduction. India’s logistics cost, which was once 16 per cent of GDP, has now fallen to 10 per cent, he said, citing reports from IIM Bangalore and IITs. The goal is to bring it below 10 per cent, thereby boosting exports, agriculture, services, and manufacturing.

His ministry is constructing 36 greenfield expressways and investing Rs 1.5 trillion (USD 18 billion) in port connectivity under the PM Gati Shakti initiative. Roads are being linked to industrial zones, religious sites, and border areas. He cited examples like the Char Dham project in Uttarakhand (Rs 120 billion), the Buddha Circuit (Rs 220 billion), and works in Ayodhya, Mathura, Pandharpur and Dehu.

Gadkari outlined three key goals for the ministry: reducing pollution through green fuels, improving road safety, and building mass rapid electric transport systems.

In Bengaluru, which faces chronic congestion, his ministry is exploring elevated mobility options including ropeways, skybuses and cable cars. With no space to widen roads, underground tunnels are also under study. The Rs 170 billion ring road project is nearing completion and expressways to Mysuru and Chennai are expected by year-end.

He confirmed consultations with the Karnataka government for better city-centre connectivity and congestion solutions. Bengaluru, he stated, must have infrastructure that reflects its status as India’s knowledge capital.

Regarding highway funding, Gadkari promoted the InvIT model, offering over 8 per cent annual returns. He said the model is inclusive and allows citizens to profit from national infrastructure growth. “India’s roads should be funded by Indians, with returns going back to them,” he said.

On alternative fuels, he remains a passionate advocate. “I drive a flex-fuel car running on 100 per cent ethanol, costing just Rs 25 per litre effectively,” he said. He also owns a hydrogen-powered vehicle and highlighted growth in electric mobility, including buses and two-wheelers. Over 670 charging stations are being installed on highways.

Gadkari also spoke about road safety, noting that 180,000 people die annually in accidents. Rs 400 billion has been allocated to address accident black spots. However, he stressed behavioural change—such as helmet use and lane discipline—is essential alongside engineering efforts.

He acknowledged delays in GPS-based tolling but said nationwide rollout will begin within a year. New systems will integrate license-plate recognition and bank-linked payments, billing only for the exact distance travelled.

On national defence and political questions, Gadkari defended Operation Sindoor and highlighted India’s defence exports, which have reached Rs 250 billion. He dismissed criticism by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying public mandates must be respected.

He refrained from speculating on the potential reunion between Maharashtra’s Thackeray cousins, though he expressed personal goodwill toward both.

Finally, on leadership, he compared Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s and Narendra Modi’s governance styles by saying that though methods evolve with technology, the mission to make India self-reliant and a top global economy remains the same.

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has announced that by the end of 2025, the travel time from Panipat in Haryana to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport will be reduced from three hours to under 30 minutes. This development is part of a large-scale infrastructure overhaul under the Modi government’s urban decongestion plan, with over Rs 1.2 trillion (approx. USD 14.4 billion) worth of projects already completed or underway in the National Capital Region.Gadkari highlighted the readiness of Urban Extension Road-2 (UER-2), including completed tunnel links to the airport, awaiting the Prime Minister’s official inauguration. He emphasised the goal of freeing Delhi from congestion and pollution, calling it the “heart of the country”.The government’s infrastructure vision includes the completion of the Delhi-Dehradun and Delhi-Jaipur access-controlled corridors by December. An additional Rs 250–300 billion in projects is also planned in coordination with the Delhi government.Beyond mobility, Gadkari stressed economic transformation through logistics cost reduction. India’s logistics cost, which was once 16 per cent of GDP, has now fallen to 10 per cent, he said, citing reports from IIM Bangalore and IITs. The goal is to bring it below 10 per cent, thereby boosting exports, agriculture, services, and manufacturing.His ministry is constructing 36 greenfield expressways and investing Rs 1.5 trillion (USD 18 billion) in port connectivity under the PM Gati Shakti initiative. Roads are being linked to industrial zones, religious sites, and border areas. He cited examples like the Char Dham project in Uttarakhand (Rs 120 billion), the Buddha Circuit (Rs 220 billion), and works in Ayodhya, Mathura, Pandharpur and Dehu.Gadkari outlined three key goals for the ministry: reducing pollution through green fuels, improving road safety, and building mass rapid electric transport systems.In Bengaluru, which faces chronic congestion, his ministry is exploring elevated mobility options including ropeways, skybuses and cable cars. With no space to widen roads, underground tunnels are also under study. The Rs 170 billion ring road project is nearing completion and expressways to Mysuru and Chennai are expected by year-end.He confirmed consultations with the Karnataka government for better city-centre connectivity and congestion solutions. Bengaluru, he stated, must have infrastructure that reflects its status as India’s knowledge capital.Regarding highway funding, Gadkari promoted the InvIT model, offering over 8 per cent annual returns. He said the model is inclusive and allows citizens to profit from national infrastructure growth. “India’s roads should be funded by Indians, with returns going back to them,” he said.On alternative fuels, he remains a passionate advocate. “I drive a flex-fuel car running on 100 per cent ethanol, costing just Rs 25 per litre effectively,” he said. He also owns a hydrogen-powered vehicle and highlighted growth in electric mobility, including buses and two-wheelers. Over 670 charging stations are being installed on highways.Gadkari also spoke about road safety, noting that 180,000 people die annually in accidents. Rs 400 billion has been allocated to address accident black spots. However, he stressed behavioural change—such as helmet use and lane discipline—is essential alongside engineering efforts.He acknowledged delays in GPS-based tolling but said nationwide rollout will begin within a year. New systems will integrate license-plate recognition and bank-linked payments, billing only for the exact distance travelled.On national defence and political questions, Gadkari defended Operation Sindoor and highlighted India’s defence exports, which have reached Rs 250 billion. He dismissed criticism by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying public mandates must be respected.He refrained from speculating on the potential reunion between Maharashtra’s Thackeray cousins, though he expressed personal goodwill toward both.Finally, on leadership, he compared Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s and Narendra Modi’s governance styles by saying that though methods evolve with technology, the mission to make India self-reliant and a top global economy remains the same.

Next Story
Building Material

UltraTech’s Limestone Mine Gets India’s First-Ever 7-Star Rating

UltraTech Cement, India’s largest producer of cement and Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC), has received top honours for sustainable mining practices. Thirteen of the company’s limestone mines were awarded star ratings by the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), Ministry of Mines, for FY 2023–24 during a ceremony held in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Among these, the Naokari Limestone Mine—part of UltraTech’s Awarpur Cement Works in Chandrapur, Maharashtra—was awarded India’s first-ever 7-star rating for a limestone mine, in recognition of exceptional performance in ‘Green Mining’. The remain..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Sieger Parking Enters Mumbai Market, Expands West India Presence

Sieger Parking, a Coimbatore-headquartered specialist in automated and multi-level car parking systems, has announced its entry into Western India with the launch of a regional office in Mumbai. This move marks a key milestone in the company’s pan-India growth strategy and its commitment to delivering technology-driven, space-efficient parking solutions across urban India. The Mumbai office will serve as the regional headquarters for Maharashtra and neighbouring states, supporting end-to-end operations with on-ground sales, project management, and service teams. The aim is to fast-track..

Next Story
Resources

IGBC Green Kochi Conclave 2025 Champions Culture and Climate Action

The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), part of CII, hosted the Green Kochi Conclave 2025 on 4 July at Hotel Holiday Inn, Kochi, under the theme “Tharavadu to Tomorrow: Weaving Kerala’s Heritage into a Sustainable Built Environment.” The event brought together policymakers, architects, developers, and thought leaders to discuss Kerala’s progress in blending cultural heritage with sustainable design.  Kerala is emerging as a frontrunner in climate-resilient development, thanks to passive design strategies, rainwater harvesting, cool roof initiatives, and the widespread adopt..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?