Good news for Delhi-NCR commuters: Nitin Gadkari announces Rs 34,500 crore mega highway projects to reduce traffic

Delhi-NCR commuters may soon get major relief from traffic jams as Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced upcoming highway and connectivity projects worth nearly Rs 34,500 crore for the region. The mega infrastructure push includes new expressways, tunnels, elevated corridors and airport links aimed at making travel across Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Delhi faster and smoother.

The projects are part of the Centre’s larger vision to build a future-ready mobility network for Delhi-NCR with better connectivity, lower pollution, reduced fuel consumption and faster regional travel.

Rs 34,500 crore highway projects planned across Delhi-NCR

According to the government, around 190 km of new highway and connectivity projects worth nearly Rs 34,500 crore are currently planned across Delhi-NCR. These projects are part of the broader Rs 1.5 lakh crore infrastructure master plan for the region.

The key focus areas include:

• Reducing traffic congestion
• Improving airport connectivity
• Cutting pollution and fuel consumption
• Faster inter-city travel
• Better logistics and freight movement

Several major projects have already started improving travel across Delhi-NCR.

Dwarka Expressway improves Delhi-Gurugram connectivity

The 30-km Dwarka Expressway has emerged as one of the biggest connectivity upgrades between Delhi and Gurugram. The expressway has improved access to Dwarka, Vasant Kunj, Najafgarh and the IGI Airport region.

UER-II cuts travel time across Outer Delhi

The 76-km Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) is being developed as Delhi’s third ring road. The project strengthens connectivity across Najafgarh, Mundka, Bawana and Alipur.

Officials say travel time on several stretches has reduced from nearly two hours to around 30 minutes.

Delhi-Meerut Expressway cuts travel time to 45 minutes

The Delhi-Meerut Expressway has transformed regional travel by reducing commute time between Delhi and Meerut to around 45 minutes.

New tunnel, elevated corridors planned to ease airport traffic

Among the biggest upcoming projects is the Shiv Murti–Nelson Mandela Marg Tunnel. The proposed 8-km underground tunnel project, estimated at around Rs 7,000 crore, aims to provide signal-free connectivity between Dwarka Expressway and South Delhi.

The project is expected to reduce congestion at Mahipalpur, Rangpuri and Dhaula Kuan — some of Delhi’s busiest traffic bottlenecks.

Another major proposal is the AIIMS–Mahipalpur–Gurugram Elevated Corridor. The 20-km elevated road project will connect AIIMS, INA, Hauz Khas, Vasant Kunj, Mahipalpur and Gurugram through a signal-free corridor.

The project is expected to reduce pressure on the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway while improving travel towards Noida and Ghaziabad.

Jewar airport link to improve dual-airport connectivity

The government is also developing a major greenfield road link between Noida International Airport at Jewar and Delhi’s IGI Airport.

The proposed 32-km corridor, estimated at around Rs 3,700 crore, will improve connectivity between Noida, Greater Noida, Faridabad, Dwarka Expressway and both airports.

Officials believe the project will reduce traffic load around Dhaula Kuan while improving airport access across NCR.

New expressway links planned for faster regional travel

Several additional highway links are also planned under the mega infrastructure push. Upcoming projects include:

• Mehrauli-Haryana border connectivity upgrades
• Delhi-Amritsar-Katra connectivity corridor
• UER-II extension towards Delhi-Dehradun Expressway
• Delhi-Dehradun Expressway link to Noida and Faridabad
• Signal-free upgrades on Ashram-Badarpur stretch

These projects are expected to reduce congestion on Kalindi Kunj, Sarai Kale Khan, Outer Ring Road and other busy NCR corridors.

Projects aim to reduce pollution, fuel consumption

Apart from improving travel speed, the projects are also expected to reduce vehicle emissions and fuel consumption by easing traffic bottlenecks and improving traffic flow.

The government says the larger goal is to transform Delhi-NCR into a world-class and sustainable mobility network over the coming years.