Synopsis: Travel time between major cities reduces with massive expressways set to open by 2026-27 and early 2028, unlocking real estate and business corridors. This articles give a look at the biggest routes, their costs and operational status.
India is rapidly expanding its expressway networks, which improves connectivity between major cities, boost economic growth, cut travel time. As of early 2025, India has a record for over 6,000 km of expressways in service and more than 11,000 Km under construction which shows a major push under national infrastructure programs. The government aims to complete many major expressway projects by the end of 2026, which links distant regions and transform freight and passenger movement across the country.
1)Bengaluru-Vijayawada Expressway
- Estimated cost: ₹19,200-₹19,320 crore
- Length: 518-624 Km (6 lanes)
- Cities connecting: Starts with Bengaluru, Karnataka and ends at Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, the route includes Devanahalli, Kadiri, Kanigiri, Podili, Addanki, Guntur.
- Expected opening: 2026-27
2)Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway
- Estimated cost: ₹40,000 crore
- Length: 670Km (lanes expandable to 8)
- Cities connecting: Delhi-Bahadurgarh-Rohtak- Narwana- Tohana – Jakhal – Barnala – Moga – Ludhiana – Jalandhar – Amritsar – Pathankot – Udhampur – Katra.
- Expected opening: Mid 2026
3)Mumbai-Pune Expressway
- Estimated cost: ₹6700 crore
- Length: 13.3 km (8 lanes)
- Cities connecting: Khopoli – Kusgaon in Maharashtra, forming the missing direct link on the existing Mumbai–Pune Expressway
- Expected opening: May 2026
4) Amas-Darbhanga Expressway
- Estimated cost: ₹6,000 crore
- Length: 189 Km (4 lanes expandable to 6)
- Cities connecting: Starts at Amas near Gaya -south/central Bihar districts – Patna – Darbhanga
- Expected opening: End 2026
5) Chennai Nashik Expressway
- Estimated cost: ₹45,000 crore
- Length: 900 Km (6 lanes)
- Cities connecting: Chennai- Andhra Pradesh- Karnataka- Maharashtra, terminating at Nashik.
- Expected opening: 2027- early 2028
Also read: Top 5 High-Demand Areas in India Fueled by Metro Expansion in 2026
6) Ghaziabad–Kanpur Expressway
- Estimated cost: ₹15,00 crore
- Length: 320 Km (4 lanes expandable to 6)
- Cities connecting: Ghaziabad – Hapur -Bulandshahr – Aligarh – Farrukhabad – Kannauj – Unnao – Kanpur
- Expected opening: Start of 2027
7) Pune Outer Ring Road
- Estimated cost: ₹42,000 crore
- Length: 173 km (6 lanes)
- Cities connecting: Encircles Pune, Maharashtra
- Expected opening: Western section by 2026, Eastern section by 2028
8) Varanasi–Ranchi–Kolkata Expressway
- Estimated cost: ₹35,000 crore
- Length: 610 km (6 lanes expandable to 8)
- Cities connecting: Varanasi through Bihar & Jharkhand to Kolkata
- Expected opening: Bihar section by 2027 and rest in 2028
9) Raipur–Koraput–Visakhapatnam
- Estimated cost: ₹20,000 crore
- Length: 465 km (6 lanes)
- Cities connecting: Raipur through Odisha to Visakhapatnam
- Expected opening: Late 2026
10) Ludhiana–Bathinda Expressway
- Estimated cost: ₹2500 crore
- Length: 76km
- Cities connecting: Ludhiana- Punjab -Bathinda
- Expected opening: end 2028
Conclusion
Movement of goods and people across India is reshaped by the booming expressways. Travel time will shrink, logistics will become cheaper and new growth hubs will emerge, with thousands of kilometres under construction and many corridors to be opened by 2026-27. These highways are not just roads but powerful engines of economic development, regional integration and future urban expansion.
Written by Boyapati Sai Jasmitha
