The ultimate goal of completing the 1,386 km, 12-hour journey between India's political capital and financial center, remains elusive at present. While the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway (DME) has significantly changed connectivity in northern India, the full operational status of the entire corridor is now expected to occur later than mid 2027.
Currently, as of today, January 22nd, 2026, the DME represents two different highways; a seamless, high speed highway throughout the states of Haryana and Rajasthan, and an incomplete, work-in-progress highway in the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra, plagued by contractual disputes and structural delays.
The biggest obstacle to the timeline has come from the state of Gujarat, historically one of the fastest moving parts of the project. This month, the Delhi High Court provided the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the authority overseeing the project, the opportunity to cancel contracts with Roadways Solutions India Infra Ltd (RSIIL). RSIIL was contracted to build approximately 35 kilometers (Packages 14 & 15) of the highway, however, was accused of having severely under-performed on their obligations.
According to a senior NHAI official who spoke to us anonymously, "The decision to cancel these contracts was made to avoid further delay and to expedite the process, but it does create a new cycle of soliciting bids and awarding contracts to the successful bidder. Mobilizing a new contractor and then completing the work will inevitably result in the Gujarat segment being completed in 2027."
Adding to the frustration experienced by many Indian infrastructure projects is the "200-Meter Gap". Although the Vadodara-Godhra section of the highway is structurally complete, it still remains closed to traffic because a 200 meter stretch of the highway has not had the high tension power lines relocated. There is some good news for commuters in the state of Gujarat. On a trial basis, the stretch of highway from Vadodara to Navsari, which connects Ena to Kharel, was opened to traffic last week providing relief to local traffic, although there are still diversions in place.
Although the highway is almost completed in the state of Maharashtra, the technical complexity of river crossings is the only thing preventing the highway from being opened to traffic. The Vaitarna River Bridge is the major bottle neck. The piling has been completed, but the superstructure will require an additional 5 to 6 months of engineering to complete. As a result, officials are estimating that this link will be completed in the middle of 2026. In addition, the Virar Interchange is the main entrance to the city of Mumbai and at this time is only partially constructed. Although packages 12 and 13 are over 90% complete, the missing bridge makes the final stretch into the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) unable to accommodate through traffic.
Delhi and Noida commuters continue to wait for access to the expressway directly from the DND Flyway. Although the 9km DND-Jaitpur Spur is 94% complete, the opening of the Spur has been delayed due to a regulatory issue with the UP Irrigation Department concerning the Agra Canal crossing. NHAI has updated the opening date for this Spur to June 2026. Although the Gurugram-Pataudi link is working to meet its deadline of March 31st, 2026, the flyover connecting it to the Dwarka Expressway is anticipated to extend into the summer.
To the average driver leaving Gurgaon today, the expressway is a reality, but only half of it. Although the corridor is fully functional from Gurgaon to Sawai Madhopur, which extends roughly 70 to 80 km beyond the popular Jaipur (Dausa) exit, the highway is not completely functional. Drivers may take the highway as far as Kota, but doing so currently requires taking detours when the highway structure breaks near Laban. Beyond Kota, the Mukundra Hills Tunnel is currently an active construction site, thereby prohibiting a continuous drive to Ratlam or Vadodara.
While acknowledging the difficulties associated with the unfinished portions of the highway, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) recently implemented a policy change. The toll rate has been reduced by 50%, on all sections of the highway that are open to traffic but are currently undergoing widening or finishing works. At present, the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is a powerful representation of India's infrastructure ambitions; massive, world class, and not yet finished.