Construction on the unfinished section of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway has once again slowed down. Passengers traveling from Kota to Delhi, in particular, are still unable to get direct access.
Delhi-Mumbai Expressway: A crucial part of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, one of the country's most ambitious infrastructure projects, has been stalled again. The 26-kilometer stretch from Mui to Hardevganj, which connects Kota in Rajasthan to Delhi directly, has been disrupted due to heavy rainfall and technical issues. This has increased the difficulties for passengers traveling towards Delhi.
Currently, due to this incomplete section, it takes people up to two hours to cover a distance of 26 kilometers, while upon completion of this section, the same distance will be covered in just 15 minutes.
Rain Put a Brake on Asphalt Paving
Bharat Singh Jodhy, the Project Director of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), said that the final asphalt paving of the road between Mui and Hardevganj was pending. The target was to complete this work by June, but it has been completely halted due to the monsoon. Continuous rainfall led to problems such as soil erosion and waterlogging, making asphalt paving impossible.
Now, it is expected that this section will be completed in October or November. After this, traffic between Kota, Delhi, Jaipur, and several other cities will become much easier.
Slow Pace from the Beginning
Work on this section of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway started in 2021, but it has not been able to gain momentum from the beginning. Last year too, work was stalled for several months due to issues like soil settling and waterlogging during the rains. Approximately 20 small and large bridges are being built in this section, and it took a year just to prepare the b foundations for them. In addition, the bridge construction work was further delayed due to the rising water level in the Beneshwar Dam.
The Mui to Hardevganj section is called Package 10. This is where the most problems have arisen. Finishing, the final layer of asphalt, signals, and roadside work are pending in this 26-kilometer section. NHAI officials say that it will be completed on a war footing after the rains stop, but it is likely to take at least 2-3 months.
Traffic Diversion Increases Problems, Traffic Jams Occurring Continuously
Due to the incomplete construction, a diversion has been implemented from Sawai Madhopur to Hardevganj. Vehicle drivers are forced to take an alternative route — via Laban to Lalsot Mega Highway, then through Indergarh and Kushtala to Sawai Madhopur. Due to the traffic exceeding capacity on this alternative route, traffic jams are occurring repeatedly.
A traffic jam also occurred in the Lakheri area on Wednesday, lasting for half an hour, which the police had to clear after a lot of effort. Passengers say that there are neither sufficient sign boards on the alternative route nor is the condition of the road good, which has made the journey even more difficult.
What Will Be the Benefit When the Work is Completed?
If this incomplete section is completed by October, direct connectivity from Kota to Delhi will be restored. The journey from Mui to Hardevganj, which currently takes 2 hours, will then be completed in just 15 minutes. This will benefit many cities like Kota, Delhi, Jaipur, and Sawai Madhopur with faster connectivity. In addition, the traffic diversion of heavy vehicles will also end, which will provide relief from traffic jams on the Mega Highway and local roads.
Local people are continuously appealing to NHAI and the administration to prioritize the work so that construction work is not disrupted every time the monsoon arrives. Many villagers say that even school-going children and ambulance services are facing difficulties on the alternative route.
