The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, India’s longest access-controlled expressway under construction, is steadily moving towards completion, with major stretches already operational and the remaining sections facing delays largely in Gujarat.Planned as a 1,350-km greenfield corridor, the expressway is expected to reduce travel time between Delhi and Mumbai from nearly 24 hours to around 12 hours once fully functional. The project is being implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the Bharatmala programme at an estimated cost of about Rs 1 lakh crore.What is the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway?The eight-lane expressway — expandable to 12 lanes — will connect Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra through a high-speed corridor designed for speeds of up to 120 kmph. Unlike older national highways that pass through towns and urban centres, the expressway is largely access-controlled, allowing uninterrupted long-distance movement. The alignment also connects emerging industrial regions rather than only existing metros.The route passes through areas including Sohna, Dausa, Kota, Ratlam, Vadodara and Surat before entering the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.Which sections are operational?Several stretches are already open to traffic. The Delhi-Dausa-Lalsot section in Rajasthan was among the first to be inaugurated. Other operational stretches include parts of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.According to publicly available government updates and media reports, over 900 km of the corridor is now either operational or substantially completed.However, some unfinished packages in Gujarat continue to hold back end-to-end connectivity between Delhi and Mumbai.Why are Gujarat sections important?The Gujarat leg is critical because it links the northern and central sections of the corridor to Maharashtra and Mumbai.Land acquisition challenges, contractor-related issues and construction delays in some packages have reportedly slowed progress. This has affected the timeline for full commissioning of the expressway.Recent reports suggest that while a large portion of the expressway could become operational during 2026, complete connectivity may take longer in select stretches.Why is the project significant?The expressway is expected to become one of India’s most important logistics corridors. By reducing travel time and improving freight efficiency, the project is aimed at lowering transportation costs between north and western India. The corridor also integrates industrial nodes, logistics parks and manufacturing clusters planned under various infrastructure initiatives.The project includes features such as:Dedicated wildlife crossingsProvision for EV charging infrastructureIntelligent traffic management systemsWayside amenities and emergency response facilitiesA utility corridor for future infrastructure deploymentWhat impact could it have?Experts expect the corridor to influence industrial development patterns across multiple states. Areas located near interchanges are already witnessing increased real estate and warehousing activity. The expressway is also expected to improve connectivity to ports in western India, benefiting sectors such as manufacturing, e-commerce and logistics.For passengers, the biggest visible change will be faster and more predictable road travel between Delhi and Mumbai — a journey that currently takes nearly a full day by road.