Nitin Gadkari and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday inspected the Sarai Kale Khan section of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, marking a significant step toward the completion of one of India’s largest highway infrastructure projects. The inspected stretch forms the final Delhi connector of the expressway and is expected to strengthen road connectivity between Delhi, Noida, Faridabad, DND, and Jaitpur.

Officials said the final link will play a crucial role in easing traffic congestion on some of the capital’s busiest arterial routes. Once operational, the connector is expected to improve traffic flow for commuters and freight vehicles entering or exiting the expressway network. Authorities believe the project will substantially reduce travel bottlenecks in the National Capital Region while supporting faster intercity movement.

Spanning more than 1,300 kilometers, the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway has been designed to cut travel time between the two major cities nearly by half while improving road safety and logistics efficiency. The Delhi section is considered especially important because of the heavy daily traffic volumes handled by the region. The project forms part of the government’s broader infrastructure expansion strategy focused on improving highway connectivity and reducing transportation delays across India.

Also Read: Army Chief Calls For Expansion Of India’s ‘Smart Power’ In Volatile Global Order

The inspection also comes shortly after the expressway introduced India’s first barrier-less toll plaza near Surat in Gujarat. The Choryasi toll plaza, located on the Kamrej-Choryasi stretch between Surat and Bharuch, became operational following nearly two months of testing that began in February this year. The system allows vehicles to pass through toll points without stopping, marking a major shift toward automated toll collection technology in the country.

The new tolling system operates using Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) technology implemented by the National Highways Authority of India under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The arrangement combines Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology with FASTag integration to deduct toll charges automatically without physical barriers. Authorities said the initiative aims to reduce waiting times, fuel consumption, and congestion at toll plazas.

The central government plans to convert more than 1,050 toll plazas across the country into AI-enabled barrier-free systems by the end of 2026. Officials believe the move will modernize India’s highway infrastructure and improve overall travel efficiency for commercial and private vehicles. The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, already viewed as one of India’s most ambitious transport corridors, is expected to become a key example of the country’s transition toward smarter and technology-driven road networks.

Also Read: Rajasthan BJP Says Gehlot Government Failed To Create Permanent Water Supply System