How PMO Intervention Cleared Way For Dwarka Expressway Inauguration After Years Of Delays
A deadlock between the Delhi government and the NHAI stalled the project for a four-kilometre section until the financial year 2018-19
Stalled for nearly a decade, the nearly 30 km Dwarka Expressway is finally set for inauguration on Sunday, after a decisive push from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) cleared long-standing bureaucratic and environmental hurdles.
Planned by the Haryana government in 2006, Dwarka Expressway saw hardly any significant progress and was given to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in 2016.
How PMO Broke the Logjam
A deadlock between the Delhi government and the NHAI stalled the project for a four-kilometre section until the financial year 2018-19.
After intervention from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), bureaucratic and environmental hurdles—including forest clearance for a 4-km Delhi section—were cleared through coordination between NHAI, the Delhi government, and other agencies.
All agencies, including the Ministry of Environment and Forests, and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), agreed to expedite necessary processes to commence construction.
As per the NHAI data, seen by News18, more than 12,000 trees have been transplanted for the Dwarka Expressway with a survival rate of 70%.
The 29-km expressway is divided into four packages—18.96 km of it is in Haryana, and the remaining 10.1 km is in Delhi. The total project cost is Rs 8,611 crore.
The route of the Dwarka Expressway starts from Shiv-Murti on NH-48 and terminates near Kherki Daula Toll Plaza on NH-48 in Gurugram.
Featuring India's first eight-lane elevated road and an eight-lane shallow tunnel built on a single pier structure, the final 10 km of the expressway—developed at a cost of around Rs 5,360 crore—will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday along with the UER-II.
The 19-km Haryana section of the Dwarka Expressway was inaugurated in March 2024—10.2 km between Haryana border and Basai rail overbridge (RoB) in Dwarka and 8.8 km between Basai RoB and NH8-SPR intersection.
The section in Delhi is divided into two packages. First, 5.9 km from Shiv Murti intersection to the Road Under Bridge (RUB) at Dwarka Sector-21 and another 4.2 km from Dwarka Sector-21 RUB to the Delhi-Haryana Border, providing direct connectivity to Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II).
The project has four interchanges with four-lane service roads at intersections, while it has three-lane service roads in the remaining parts.
'The section will also provide multi-modal connectivity to UER-II, Yashobhoomi, DMRC Blue line and Orange line, upcoming Bijwasan railway station and Dwarka cluster Bus Depot," an official statement reads.
What It Means for Delhi
Dwarka Expressway offers an alternate route for NH‑48 traffic from Delhi towards Haryana and other states via the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.
It also provides direct access to Yashobhumi in Sector 25 of Dwarka and alternate connectivity to Delhi International Airport through a dedicated four-lane airport tunnel. This was made operational from May-June 2025.
This expressway is a catalyst for investment and employment in Dwarka and adjoining regions.
Future Expansion
To further ease the journey, a five-km signal-free tunnel is planned between Nelson Mandela Road and Shiv Murti-Mahipalpur intersection at the Dwarka Expressway. This is expected to cost around Rs 3,500 crore. This will cater to traffic in every direction with two levels below ground.
Together with UER-II and other new access-controlled highways in NCR, the Dwarka Expressway is expected to be a cornerstone in Delhi's long-term plan to cut travel time, ease congestion, and boost regional connectivity.
About the Author
Nivedita Singh
Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived...Read More
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First Published:
August 17, 2025, 07:00 IST
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