Synopsis: This article highlights the top 7 Indian expressways that have significantly reduced travel time between major cities. These high-speed corridors are transforming connectivity, making long journeys faster and more efficient.
The Bharatmala Pariyojana, launched in 2017, placed high-speed access controlled corridors at the center of the national infrastructure policy. Here are the few top fully inaugurated expressways which are ranked based on their minimum travel time.
Top 7 Major Indian Expressways Cutting Travel Time
1. Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway (Samruddhi Mahamarg)
This 701 km long expressway is the economic lifeline of Maharashtra connecting the state’s commercial hub with the logistic centre Nagpur. On June 5, 2025, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the final phase-3. It would take about 13 hours to drive from Nagpur to Mumbai on the old route that went through NH-44 and Wardha Road. The new road from Shivmadka village (Nagpur) to Amane Village (Thane District, Mumbai Metropolitan Region) takes about 8 hours.
- Estimated Cost: ₹55,335 crore
- There are 10 districts: Nagpur, Wardha, Amravati, Washim, Buldhana, Jalna, Aurangabad, Nashik, Ahmednagar, and Thane.
- Notable: Passes through 3 wildlife sanctuaries
2. Lucknow-Ghazipur (Purvanchal Expressway)
The Purvanchal Expressway 340.824 km, improves the connectivity across eastern Uttar Pradesh. It was inaugurated on November 16, 2021, by PM Narendra Modi at Kurebhar Airstrip, Sultanpur. The old route from Lucknow to Sultanpur to Azamgarh to Ghazipur via NH-731 and NH-19 through congested towns, which took ~12 hours. The new route from Chand Sarai village (Lucknow, NH-731) to Haydaria village (Ghazipur, NH-19), which takes ~3.5 hours.
- Estimated Cost: ₹22,494.66 crore including land
- There are 9 districts: Lucknow, Barabanki, Amethi, Sultanpur, Ayodhya, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, Mau, Ghazipur
- Notable: 3.2 km IAF emergency airstrip near Sultanpur
3. Meerut-Prayagraj (Ganga Expressway)
Ganga expressway 594 km, plays a key role for the connectivity from Meerut to Prayagraj. It was inaugurated on April 29, 2026, by PM Narendra Modi at a ceremony at Hardoi. The old route from Meerut to Prayagraj via NH-58, NH-9 along with congested state highways took ~12 hours of travel time. The new route from Bijauli village (Meerut) to Judapur Dandu village (Prayagraj) takes around ~6 hours to travel
- Estimated Cost: ~₹37,350 crore with the land acquisition of ~₹9,500 crore
- There are 12 districts: Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Sambhal, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Raebareli, Pratapgarh, Prayagraj
- Notable: 3.5 km IAF airstrip near Shahjahanpur, 14 major bridges including 1 km bridge over the Ganga
4. Delhi-Dehradhun Expressway
This 210 km long expressway has reduced the travel time between Dehradhun and Delhi to ~2.5 hours. It was inaugurated on April 14, 2026, by PM Narendra Modi. The old route from Delhi to Modinagar to Muzaffarnagar to Roorkee to Dehradhun via NH-58 took ~5 hours of travel time. The new route from Akshardham (Delhi) to Dehradhun via Baghpat, Shamli, Saharanpur, takes ~2.5 hours.
- Estimated Cost: ₹11,963 crore
- There are 6 districts: Delhi, Ghaziabad, Baghpat, Shamli, Saharanpur, Dehradhun
- Notable: India’s longest elevated wildlife corridor over Rajaji National Park
5. Agra-Lucknow Expressway
This greenfield corridor ~302 km was inaugurated on November 21, 2016, by (the then) CM Akhilesh Yadav. The old route from Agra to Kanpur to Lucknow via NH-2 and state roads took ~6 hours to travel. The new route from Etmadpur to SH-40, Lucknow, via Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etawah, Auraiya, Kannauj, Kanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, takes ~3 hours to travel.
- Estimated Cost: ~₹13,200 crore
- There are 10 districts: Agra, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etawah, Auraiya, Kannauj, Kanpur, Unnao, Hardoi, Lucknow
- Notable: 3 km IAF emergency airstrip near Unnao
6. Yamuna Expressway (Greater Noida-Agra)
This ~165 km long expressway connects most of the popular tourist destinations, enhancing mobility and convenience further for travellers. It was inaugurated on August 9, 2021, by (the then) CM Akhilesh Yadav. The old route from Delhi or Greater Noida to Agra via NH-2 Mathura Road through Faridabad, Ballabgarh, Palwal took ~4 hours. The new route from Pari Chowk (Greater Noida) to Kuberpur (Agra), take around ~1 hours and 40 minutes
- Estimated Cost: ~₹13,000 crore
- There are 6 districts: Gautam Budh Nagar, Bulandshahar, Aligarh, Hathras, Mathura, Agra
- Notable: 1st expressway in India to host IAF emergency landing exercise
7. Dwarka Expressway (Delhi-Gurgaon)
This ~29 km long expressway was inaugurated on March 11, 2024, the Haryana Section, by PM Narendra Modi, on August 17, 2025 Delhi Section by PM Narendra Modi, and is fully operational from August 2025. The old route from Dwarka to Gurgaon via NH-48 used to take ~45 to 60 minutes or more during peak hours. While the new route from Shiv Murti (Mahipalpur) to Kherki Daula Toll Plaza takes around ~40 minutes.
- Estimated Cost:~₹9,000 crore
- Two districts: 2 which are, South West Delhi, and Gurugram district
- Notable: India’s 1st 8-lane elevated urban expressway on a single pillar
These expressways didn’t just cut the travelling time, it propelled people to the era of convenient and fast travel.
Written by Jahnavi
