New expressway to slash Delhi-Mumbai travel time to 12 hr; tunnel to pass through Matheran Hills

Prepare for a quicker journey from Mumbai to Delhi! A pioneering expressway is set to cut travel time between the two cities from 24 hours to just 12, with a groundbreaking 1,350 km tunnel—the longest of its kind. The Government's flagship Delhi-Mumbai Expressway also includes the construction of a 4.39 km eight-lane tunnel passing through Matheran's eco-sensitive hills, enabling wild animals to traverse peacefully.

The tunnel, stretching from Morbe Village near Panvel, at the base of Matheran, to Bhoj Village near Ambernath in Thane district, has received environmental clearance. After this, IRCON Company was awarded the construction contract by the National Highway Authority. An estimated ₹1,453 crore will be invested in the tunnel project.

The upcoming expressway will pass through Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Further, as per reports, excavation work has commenced from Badlapur in Thane district, although delays have been reported in Gujarat due to land issues. Nevertheless, the project (NH-148N / NE-4) aims for completion by 2025.

Construction Cost: ₹1,453 crores for the tunnel

Total Project Cost: ₹1 lakh crore