The eagerly awaited Kota–Delhi section of the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway is expected to open to traffic after Diwali, officials confirmed. The mega project, launched in 2019, was originally slated for completion in 2023, but the full corridor is now expected to be operational only by 2026. A direct road link to Mumbai is projected to become available next year, though complete connectivity remains pending.According to officials, the delay stems primarily from the 4.9-kilometre tunnel planned within the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve, where construction can begin only after February 2026, due to environmental and regulatory restrictions.An NHAI official said, “Work on Package 10, covering a 26.5-kilometre stretch, is already 95 per cent complete. Only the finishing touches remain, and we are making every effort to open this section on schedule.”Currently, travellers between Kota and Delhi must exit the expressway and traverse a 60-kilometre two-lane highway near Sawai Madhopur before rejoining the main route — a detour that frequently causes traffic congestion and delays. “The new expressway section from Kota to Delhi will start after Diwali,” a source confirmed.Beyond the tunnel construction, several technical and environmental challenges have also contributed to the delay. The relocation of a 765 kV double-circuit power transmission line, running from Anta in Baran district to Phagi in Jaipur, required precision engineering and timed shutdowns, which slowed progress.“Shifting these high-tension lines needed coordinated planning with multiple power agencies, which extended the project timeline,” another official explained.Adding to the hurdles, unusually heavy rainfall in July and August damaged access roads and hampered the transport of construction materials, further delaying work.Once the safety audit is completed, authorities plan to open four of the planned eight lanes of the expressway in the first phase to facilitate traffic flow between Delhi and Kota.The Delhi–Mumbai Expressway, spanning over 1,386 kilometres and costing around Rs 1.1 trillion, is India’s longest greenfield expressway and a flagship infrastructure project aimed at cutting travel time between Delhi and Mumbai from 24 hours to just 12 hours upon completion.