Expressways in India: Upcoming Routes You Need to Know About!
- AsmitA India Realty
With a growing population and a booming economy, India needs well-developed transportation systems for better connectivity among cities, villages, and industries. Among all modes of transport, roads handle the majority of passenger traffic and freight movement.
To meet the increasing demand for convenience and reduced travel time, upcoming expressways have become a cornerstone of India’s road infrastructure. These high-speed, access-controlled road developments are revolutionising the nation’s transportation landscape, invigorating regional economies, and elevating living standards across the country.
As we step into a new era of infrastructure, let’s explore how Indian express highways are transforming transportation and examine some of the most anticipated upcoming expressway routes.
What is an Expressway?
An expressway is a high-speed divided roadway developed for cross traffic, with totally or partially restricted access. They typically have limited entrances and exits and very few, if any, cross-traffic intersections to permit smooth-flowing travel.
Expressway Development in India
Construction of expressways in India started in the early 2000s through the development of the Mumbai-Pune expressway, setting a platform for the fast development of expressways in India. Ever since, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), together with the state governments, have embarked on many projects aimed at increasing the number of expressways in India.
To this end, the ‘Bharatmala Pariyojana’ launched by the Indian central government in 2017 stands out as an eye-opening initiative that will significantly change the roads of India. This major highway project in India is designed to improve connectivity in terms of economic corridors, border regions, and remote areas.
Most of the new expressways in India fall under this program with the main purpose of easing congestion, reducing transportation expenses, and boosting economic growth. In other words, the construction boom of expressways in India has changed much about the transportation system in India.
Key Benefits of Expressways in India
- Reduced travel time is one of the main advantages of building expressways in India. Indian highways are built for faster movement, with improved quality in construction and restricted access to ensure smooth journeys even during peak hours.
- The expressway network connects all big cities, rural areas, industries, and seaports, fostering commerce and economic growth while keeping costs low in transport operations.
- Indian expressways are built with quality asphalt and efficient signage systems that help minimise accidents and congestion on normal roads.
- Vehicles maintain steady speeds, improving fuel efficiency, while green initiatives like tree plantations and solar panels reduce environmental impact.
The transformative impact of these expressways also includes the potential to enhance tourism and regional connectivity, ensuring a well-rounded improvement in both the economy and social infrastructure. As new routes open, they will provide direct access to remote areas, boosting the development of previously underserved regions and making it easier for industries to expand their reach.
List of Upcoming Expressways in India (2025-2030)
Here’s a detailed list of some expressways planned in India that would revolutionise transport facilities in India:
Delhi - Mumbai Expressway
The Delhi – Mumbai expressway is one of the components of the large-scale expressway plan in India, which intends to establish connectivity between north India and western India in order to create a trade route between these two areas. Upon completion, Tthe Delhi – Mumbai expressway will become the longest expressway in India.
Key Details:
- Length: Approximately 1,386 km
- Route: From Delhi to Mumbai, passing through Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra states of India
- Lanes: An 8-lane expressway, with plans of expansion to 12 lanes.
- Status: Under construction (partial sections open by 2026)
Currently, the trip from Delhi to Mumbai takes over 24 hours. The expected reduction to 12-14 hours will provide a significant benefit to those travelling between these two areas. In addition, this new highway will provide a much better connection to the major industrial areas in India, and make it much easier for the transportation of goods.
The construction of the new expressway has begun in phases. For example, the Sohna-Dausa area is scheduled to be open in 2023, and many sections in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are scheduled to be open from 2024 to 2026. Completion of the project for the entire corridor should be achieved in 2027-2028.
Ganga Expressway
The Uttar Pradesh government has planned and launched the Ganga Expressway to enhance the highway network and economic activity in the state. This upcoming expressway, named after the river Ganga, is expected to transform into one of the longest expressways in India.
Key Details:
- Length: Approximately 594 kmÂ
- Route: Links Meerut in Western Uttar Pradesh to Prayagraj in Eastern Uttar Pradesh.
- Lanes: A new 6-lane expressway is planned that will extend further in the future to 8 lanes.
- Status: Under construction (90 – 95% of the work is completed as of early 2026)
The time taken to travel from Meerut to Prayagraj currently takes over 12 hours, but is expected to drop to only 6-7 hours. The upcoming expressway connects 12 districts, including Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Sambhal, Budaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Raebareli, Pratapgarh, and Prayagraj.
Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway
The Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway is one of the new expressways in India. This project is envisaged to boost the transport link between Delhi, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir. This expressway is being developed as part of the Government of India’s Bharatmala Pariyojana program, which aims to develop tourism and trade in northern India in general.
Key Details:
- Length: Approximately 550 km
- Route: Links Delhi to Amritsar (Punjab) and Katra (Jammu & Kashmir)
- Lanes: 4-lane access-controlled expressway, provision for future widening up to 6 lanes.
- Status: Under construction (expected to be completed between March 2027 and March 2038)
The key cities along the route are Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Amritsar. In Jammu & Kashmir, the route reaches Katra, the base town for the Vaishno Devi shrine. It will make the travelling time from Delhi to Amritsar 4-4.5 hours (currently, it takes 7-9 hours) and from Delhi to Katra 6-6.5 hours (around 11-12 hours now).
Bangalore-Chennai Expressway
The Bangalore-Chennai Expressway (BCE) is one of the most significant infrastructure projects intended to promote transportation between two large cities: Bangalore, in Karnataka, and Chennai, in Tamil Nadu. This new expressway in India is intended to provide a quicker means of transport, relieve load on existing arteries, and encourage economic exchange between the two cities.
Key Details:
- Length: Approximately 260 km Â
- Route: Links Hoskote near Bangalore to Sriperumbudur near Chennai. Â
- Lanes: 4-lane access-controlled expressway with provision of a 6-lane facility Â
- Status: Under construction (some sections are reported to be 90% complete)
The time taken to travel from Bangalore to Chennai or vice versa will drop from 6-7 hours to 2.5-3 hours. Major cities along the route will be Kolar, Chittoor, and Sriperumbudur.Â
This upcoming expressway will strengthen the exports of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. The project is underway in three phases and is progressing steadily, albeit at a moderate pace.
Narmada Expressway
The Narmada Expressway is a planned large infrastructure project in the state of Madhya Pradesh that is intended to further network and development. It will extend alongside the Narmada River, connecting major cities and boosting the economy of central India.
Key Details:
- Length: Approximately 1,300 km Â
- Route: Intended to link Amarkantak in eastern Madhya Pradesh to Alirajpur in western Madhya Pradesh, passing through the width of the Narmada
- Lanes: Initially planned as a 4-lane expressway, but can be extended to 6 lanes.
- Status: Under development (pre-construction/land acquisition phase)
It is located in Madhya Pradesh, but it may connect with other expressways or national highways to boost connectivity. Key cities along the route are Jabalpur, Hoshangabad (Narmadapuram), Khandwa, Barwani, and Mandla.
The new express highway is in the planning stage, and a detailed project report is being developed. The Madhya Pradesh government is aggressively seeking funds and clearances under the Bharatmala Pariyojana for this upcoming expressway.
Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway
The Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway aims to link two of the biggest cities of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow and Kanpur, by using a faster and more efficient road link. It has been postulated that travel time will be greatly cut down, in addition to enhancing the economic potential of the expressway.
Key Details:
- Length: Approximately 63 km (one of the shortest expressways in India)
- Route: Directly links Lucknow (state capital) to Kanpur (industrial city)
- Lanes: 6-lane expressway, extendable up to 8 lanes
- Status: Completed; in final stages of preparation for public use (expected to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India on 28th April 2026)
This new expressway in India is expected to reduce travel time from over an hour to just 35-40 minutes. The project is still an under-construction highway, though the work is going on as planned.
 It is connected with the Purvanchal Expressway and Ganga Expressway, offering smooth connectivity to the future Bundelkhand Expressway along with the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway through Kanpur.
Narmada Expressway
The Narmada Expressway is a planned large infrastructure project in the state of Madhya Pradesh that is intended to further network and development. It will extend alongside the Narmada River, connecting major cities and boosting the economy of central India.
Key Details:
- Length: Approximately 1,300 km Â
- Route: Intended to link Amarkantak in eastern Madhya Pradesh to Alirajpur in western Madhya Pradesh, passing through the width of Narmada.
- Lanes: Initially planned as a 4-lane expressway but can be extended to 6 lanes.
It is located in Madhya Pradesh, but it may connect with other expressways or national highways to boost connectivity. Key cities along the route are Jabalpur, Hoshangabad (Narmadapuram), Khandwa, Barwani, and Mandla.
The new express highway is in the planning stage, and a detailed project report is being developed. The Madhya Pradesh government is aggressively seeking funds and clearances under the Bharatmala Pariyojana for this upcoming expressway.
Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway
The Lucknow–Kanpur Expressway aims to link two of the biggest cities of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow and Kanpur, by using a faster and more efficient road link. It has been postulated that travel time will be greatly cut down, in addition to enhancing the economic potential of the expressway.
Key Details:
- Length: Approximately 63 km (one of the shortest expressways in India)
- Route: Directly links Lucknow (state capital) to Kanpur (industrial city).
- Lanes: 6-lane expressway, extendable up to 8 lanes.
This new expressway in India is expected to reduce travel time from over an hour to just 35-40 minutes. The project is still an under-construction highway, though the work is going on as planned.
The construction phases are in progress, and land acquisition processes have also been accomplished. It is hoped that it will be completed by 2025. It is connected with the Purvanchal Expressway and Ganga Expressway, offering smooth connectivity to the future Bundelkhand Expressway along with the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway through Kanpur.
Gorakhpur-Shamli Expressway
The Gorakhpur-Shamli Expressway is a planned infrastructural project that will link the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, namely Gorakhpur, with the western part of Uttar Pradesh, specifically Shamli.
Key Details:
- Length: Approximately 600 km
- Route: Links east Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur with west Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli, running through different districts such as Deoria, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, and Pratapgarh
- Lanes: Proposed as a 4-lane expressway
- Status: PlanningÂ
The project is currently in the phase of identification and conception, along with the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR). The completion of construction work on the expressway is estimated for 2027, barring any delays owing to approval or funding issues.
Amas-Darbhanga Expressway
The Amas–Darbhanga Expressway is an essential upcoming expressway in Bihar that seeks to improve the transport interconnectivity within Bihar, connecting south Bihar to North Bihar. This under-construction highway will also be part of Bihar’s rolling plan and augment the connectivity between the northern regions of the state and other regions in India and even Nepal.
Key Details:
- Length: Approximately 191 km
- Route: Links Amas in the Gaya district in southern Bihar with Darbhanga in northern Bihar.
- Lanes: Proposed as a 4-lane carriageway with provision for extension to 6 lane highway in India.
The new express highway is expected to be ready by 2026, provided that approvals are issued on time and construction is duly effective. It facilitates integration among the major cities of Bihar, Gaya, and Darbhanga, and it also provides access to Nepal from northern Bihar for better business and tourism involvement.
Faridabad-Jewar Airport Expressway
The Faridabad-Jewar Airport Expressway will link the city of Faridabad, Haryana, with the newly built Noida International Airport at Jewar, Uttar Pradesh. The construction of this expressway is one such step that will help contribute to providing connectivity for this airport.
Key Details:
- Length: Approximately 31 km
- Route: Links Faridabad to Jewar Airport and enables commuters to experience shorter travel time between the two important destinations
- Lanes: Proposed as a four-lane expressway, which could be expanded to six lanes.
- Status: Land acquisition and initial development ongoing
Processes relating to land acquisition are currently underway for this expressway in India, and the project will be completed by 2026.
Raipur-Visakhapatnam Expressway
The Government of India is currently working on the construction of the Raipur-Visakhapatnam Expressway to establish a link between Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. Construction of this expressway will help in increasing the trade activities as well as decreasing the travelling time between Central and Coastal India.
Key Details:
- Length: Approximately 465 km
- Route: Links Raipur in Chhattisgarh to Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh
- Lanes: A 4-lane access-controlled expressway is planned for this route
- Status: Under construction (some parts are operational, and full completion is expected by December 2026)
Travelling time from Raipur to Visakhapatnam will be significantly reduced. The current construction process of the highway is being conducted in phases and will be fully developed in the coming years.
Nagpur-Goa Expressway (Shaktipeeth Expressway)
A new highway project has come up through the Maharashtra government, which connects important areas from the central and western parts of Maharashtra through an expressway named Nagpur-Goa Expressway or Shaktipeeth Expressway.
Key Details:
- Length: Approximately 760 km
- Route: Connects Nagpur to Goa, covering important districts of Maharashtra
- Lanes: Proposed to be a 6-lane access-controlled expressway
- Status: Planned and proposed (as of April 2026)
This expressway is expected to enhance connectivity in Maharashtra and reduce travel time.
Cities That Will Benefit the Most
Building expressways will help improve connectivity and provide growth prospects for various areas in India. Towns and cities falling on these expressway routes will see rapid economic progress owing to enhanced connectivity.
Some of the cities which will greatly benefit from expressways include Delhi, Meerut, Prayagraj, Amritsar, Katra, Bangalore, Chennai, Lucknow, Kanpur, Raipur, Visakhapatnam, and Nagpur. These cities will become more accessible to nearby towns and other industries in their vicinity.
Furthermore, some new upcoming areas and small towns located on expressway routes will also attract investors and become centres of residential and industrial activities.
How Expressways Impact Real Estate Prices?
The construction of expressways is highly significant as far as the influence on the real estate sector is concerned due to the improved accessibility and connectivity that it creates. Property values increase in areas that have expressways because travel becomes easy, and the time taken to reach certain places decreases.
Connectivity is an added benefit for any area because it encourages industrial and commercial activities to move in. Hence, the real estate market witnesses increased property values in these areas.
Expressways help in creating new growth sectors by connecting previously underdeveloped and inaccessible areas to urban hubs.
Complete list of expressways with Length, Status, Rout in india
The table below summarises key details of India’s expressways, including length, route, lane count, and current status:
| Expressway Name | Approximate Length (km) | Route | Lanes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi–Mumbai Expressway | 1368 | Delhi to Mumbai via Haryana, Rajasthan, MP, Gujarat, Maharashtra | 8 (expandable to 12) | Under construction |
| Ganga Expressway | 594 | Meerut to Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) | 6 (expandable to 8) | Under construction (near completion) |
| Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway | 550 | Delhi to Amritsar to Katra | 4 (expandable to 6) | Under construction |
| Bangalore–Chennai Expressway | 260 | Hoskote (Bangalore) to Sriperumbudur (Chennai) | 4 (expandable to 6) | Under construction |
| Narmada Expressway | 1,300 | Amarkantak to Alirajpur (Madhya Pradesh) | 4 (expandable to 6) | Planning stage |
| Lucknow–Kanpur Expressway | 63 | Lucknow to Kanpur | 6 (expandable to 8) | Completed (awaiting inauguration) |
| Gorakhpur–Shamli Expressway | 600 | Gorakhpur to Shamli (Uttar Pradesh) | 4 | Planning stage |
| Amas–Darbhanga Expressway | 191 | Amas (Gaya) to Darbhanga (Bihar) | 4 (expandable to 6) | Under construction |
| Faridabad–Jewar Airport Expressway | 31 | Faridabad to Jewar Airport | 4 (expandable to 6) | Land acquisition stage |
| Raipur–Visakhapatnam Expressway | 465 | Raipur to Visakhapatnam | 4 | Under construction (partial operational) |
| Nagpur–Goa (Shaktipeeth) Expressway | 760 | Nagpur to Goa | 6 | Planned |
Bottom Line
Expressways in India are set to witness one of their best periods of growth, which is indicative of some change regarding development and connectivity. With the advent of better designing, infrastructure, and technological advancements, the coming expressways will bring about better efficiency, less time to travel, and improved connectivity to regions. Â
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an expressway and a highway?
An expressway is a high-speed road with controlled access for speed and safety. Meanwhile, highways may have an at-grade, lower speed limit, and availability for local road access.
What roles do expressways play in the economic growth of India?
Indian expressways improve accessibility, conserve time, lower transportation expenses, and develop economic growth through trade, tourism, and industry.
Do we have tolls on all our expressways?
Many expressways in India are toll roads. The toll paid by citizens finances the maintenance of the road and recovers the construction cost.
In what way does the government promote safety on expressways?
Security measures are being maintained through access control, smart traffic control systems, proper traffic surveillance through video surveillance systems, and the condition of the infrastructure.
What role is played by technology in expressway management?
Technology is as much a part of the road system as it is of airways. Technological applications like auto-tolling systems, traffic monitoring, and emergency facilities guarantee the safe functioning of expressways.
Which is the longest expressway in India?
The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is the longest expressway in India, with a distance of about 1,386 km. It links the cities of Delhi and Mumbai and runs through several states, saving a great deal of travelling time between the two cities.
Which expressway is best for real estate investment?
Some of the best choices for making real estate investments include the Ganga Expressway, Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, and Bangalore-Chennai Expressway.
Which cities benefit most from expressways?
Major cities like Delhi, Meerut, Prayagraj, Amas, Dharbhanga, Amritsar, Katra, Bangalore, Chennai, Lucknow, Kanpur, Raipur, Visakhapatnam, and Nagpur stand to gain immensely from it. They will witness improved connectivity, reduced travel time, and enhanced trading prospects and investments.
What is Bharatmala Pariyojana?
The Bharatmala Pariyojana is one of the ambitious flagship highway projects initiated by the Government of India with the primary objective of enhancing road connectivity in the country.
