India’s second longest expressway to be built over 500 km of desert terrain

June 26, 2024: With the longest expressway project, the 1386-km Delhi-Mumbai expressway, set to become operational, the country will also have its second-longest expressway connecting two cities separated by 500 kilometre of desert. The unique aspect of this expressway is that it will pass through desert terrain. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plans to complete the Amritsar – Jamnagar expressway by December 2025.

Once operational, travel time between the two commercial cities – Amritsar and Jamnagar – will be reduced to half, significantly reducing travel costs. The expressway will start from Amritsar in Punjab and connect up to Jamnagar in Gujarat, covering 1,316 km in total. A significant portion of the expressway has already been completed.

The expressway will cover hundreds of kilometres of desert across Rajasthan and Haryana. Besides enhancing connectivity, the expressway will steer industrial growth and attract businesses. It will link industrial hubs around Amritsar with those in Gujarat, thus bolstering economic activities. Nearly 500 kilometres of the expressway’s route will pass through Rajasthan, a significant portion of which will cross sandy terrain.

The current distance from Amritsar to Jamnagar is 1,516 km, which takes about 26 hours to cover. Once operational, the new expressway will reduce the distance by 216 km and the travel time will be reduced by half to just 13 hours. This is because of the increase in the speed of vehicles, which will be 100 kmph along the expressway.

The Amritsar – Jamnagar expressway will boost connectivity in Delhi-NCR, enabling people from Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat to commute easily. It will also be linked to the Delhi-Katra Expressway.

Moreover, the expressway will facilitate smooth access from Gujarat to Kashmir, benefitting cities such as Amrtisar, Bhatinda, Moga, Hanumangarh, Suratgarh, Bikaner, Nagaur, Jodhpur, Barmer and Jamnagar.