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Projects worth Rs 1.2 lakh crore are underway in Delhi-NCR, out of which Rs 60,000 crore worth of work has already been completed, Union minister Nitin Gadkari stated
The idea of building a riverside expressway was given in-principle clearance by the Noida Authority in March 2025. (Representational Image)
In a major push to enhance road connectivity in Delhi-NCR, the Centre has given the green signal to a new 30-km-long expressway that will link Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida, and the upcoming Jewar International Airport. The proposed expressway will run parallel to the existing Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, following the course of the Yamuna River, and will connect the existing Pushta Road with both the Noida-Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressways.
The proposal, presented by Gautam Buddha Nagar MP Dr Mahesh Sharma, was recently approved by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. Gadkari confirmed his support during his visit to the Jewar airport site for the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ plantation drive, saying the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) would “seriously consider” the proposal and assured there would be no dearth of funds.
Projects worth Rs 1.2 lakh crore are underway in Delhi-NCR, out of which Rs 60,000 crore worth of work has already been completed, Gadkari stated, adding that the government had a roadmap for future development and is ready to invest Rs 40,000-50,000 crore more.
The idea of building a riverside expressway was given in-principle clearance by the Noida Authority in March 2025 as part of a larger strategy to decongest the increasingly burdened Noida-Greater Noida Expressway. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary had earlier tasked the Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) with its implementation, instructing a cost-sharing arrangement among Noida, Greater Noida, and Yamuna Expressway Authorities.
However, the Noida Authority has pushed for NHAI to take up the construction to ensure efficient execution and funding, an idea that now seems likely to be realized following the Centre’s involvement. Formal approval from NHAI is now the only pending step.
Currently, the 25-km-long Noida-Greater Noida Expressway handles an estimated 5 lakh vehicles daily. Around two lakh of these enter via the DND Flyway, while another lakh come in from Chilla Border and Kalindi Kunj. Additional traffic enters from core Noida sectors such as 15, 16, 18, and 37. This daily load has increasingly led to congestion, particularly during peak hours.
According to Mahesh Sharma, the new expressway will serve as a strategic bypass that will allow vehicles from Delhi to reach Jewar Airport directly without having to navigate the busy Noida Expressway. “To fully leverage Jewar Airport’s potential, building a direct and efficient road link is not just necessary, it’s urgent,” Sharma said.
Notably, about 11 km of the Yamuna Pushta Road was previously opened to the public in 2014. However, it quickly fell into disrepair, developing potholes within a year and attracting minimal traffic due to safety concerns. Authorities are now keen to avoid a repeat, with the current project expected to use upgraded design standards and long-term durability planning under NHAI supervision.
Jewar Airport to Open September 2025
The expressway plan comes at a critical time, as the much-anticipated Noida International Airport at Jewar gears up for operations. According to Uttar Pradesh Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’, the airport is scheduled to commence domestic and cargo operations in September 2025, with international flights expected to follow by November 2025.
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New Delhi | Noida, India
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