Delhi-Mumbai Expressway: PM Modi inaugurates Rs. 12,150cr-worth 246km Sohna-Dausa-Lalsot stretch
What's the story
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the 246-kilometer-long Sohna-Dausa-Lalsot section of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway at Dausa, Rajasthan. Reportedly, this stretch will reduce the travel time between Delhi-NCR and Jaipur from five hours to about two-three hours. Earlier in the day, the prime minister also inaugurated the year-long celebrations to commemorate the 200th birth anniversary of Arya Samaj founder Dayanand Saraswati in New Delhi.
Context
Why does this story matter?
This is the first stretch of the prestigious Delhi-Mumbai Expressway to be opened. Once it is fully operational, the expressway will connect five states and is expected to enhance the economy by creating numerous jobs. Notably, it is one of 17 greenfield corridors planned under Phase I of the Bharatmala Pariyojana—a road-building initiative—to provide optimized connectivity to different areas.
Details
PM lays foundation of road projects worth Rs. 18,100cr
PM Modi inaugurated the first completed section of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, which runs from Sohna in Haryana to Dausa and Lalsot in Rajasthan, reported Hindustan Times. He also laid the foundation stone for road development projects worth over Rs. 18,100 crore. After two public gatherings in Dausa, Modi will leave for Bengaluru, Karnataka, where he will inaugurate the Aero India aerospace exhibition on Monday.
Figures
Section will reduce Delhi-Jaipur travel time by 2 hours
The expressway's Sohna-Dausa-Lalsot segment stretches over 246 kilometers and cost more than Rs. 12,150 crore to build. It is likely to reduce the current five-hour travel time between Delhi and Jaipur to two-three hours. It would also help relieve congestion on the Delhi-Jaipur National Highway 48 and contribute significantly to the region's economic growth.
Features
Key aspects of Delhi-Mumbai Expressway
The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is set to connect five Indian states: Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. Once completed, the eight-lane expressway will be India's longest expressway (1,386 kilometers). There are more than 40 major interchanges on the expressway, while a three-meter wide corridor has been dedicated to utility lines, including pipelines, solar power generation, optical fiber cables, and a high-tech automated traffic management system.
Twitter Post
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari shares visuals of Delhi-Mumbai Expressway
For the construction of #Delhi_Mumbai_Expressway around 12 lakh tons of steel are to be consumed which is equivalent to 50 Howrah Bridges. The project is going to generate 10 Cr man-days of employment.#BuildingTheNation #PragatiKaHighway #GatiShakti pic.twitter.com/QM7sZFAMOA
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) February 10, 2023
Additional event
Modi unveils commemorative events for Dayanand Saraswati's 200th birth anniversary
Earlier on Sunday, Modi launched year-long celebrations for the 200th birth anniversary celebrations of social reformer Dayanand Saraswati at Delhi's Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. Saraswati, who was born on February 12, 1824, founded Arya Samaj, a Hindu reform movement, in 1875. The Prime Minister's Office said the central government was committed to celebrating and publicizing the social reformer's contributions.
Twitter Post
Images of Arya Samaj event shared on Twitter
#Delhi | PM Narendra Modi attends the event marking the 200th birth anniversary of #MaharishiDayanandSaraswati
— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) February 12, 2023
(ANI) pic.twitter.com/goY7XUl1yF