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India has inaugurated the first section of a 1,386 km (861 mi) highway linking the capital New Delhi with the financial hub Mumbai, a major milestone in the nation’s efforts to modernize its infrastructure. South Asia and catch up with neighboring China.
Once completed, the eight-lane road – four in each direction – will be India’s longest and is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities to 12 hours, halving the entire journey. submit.
On Sunday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a 246 km stretch of highway connecting Delhi with the city of Lalsot in the northwestern state of Rajasthan – a famous tourist destination attracts tens of thousands of visitors with its brightly colored palaces and mountainous terrain.
“Delhi Mumbai Expressway is one of the most advanced highways in the world, presenting a panorama of developing India,” Mr. Modi said during the opening ceremony, adding that The development of this route is expected to boost investment and economic growth of India.
The Indian government earlier said it had invested around $13 billion in the project to provide a faster link between the capital and five states: Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra. The first season alone cost $1.4 billion, it said in a news release on Sunday.
The opening of the first route is a huge boost for the world’s fifth-largest economy and will soon become the most populous nation, even if India’s infrastructure is still far behind China’s.
In recent years, China has invested billions of dollars in ambitious infrastructure projectinclude longest high-speed rail network in the world and an extensive highway system.
In contrast, India’s trains are notoriously unreliable and the narrow roads with potholes severely affect travel times across the country.
One project aimed at improving the country’s rail system is the Western Dedicated Cargo Corridor. The 1,506 km (935 mi) route under construction will eventually connect the city of Dadri in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh with Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is expected to open up India’s rail network and increase the average speed of freight trains.
For Mr. Modi, who came to power in 2014 with a ticket to nationalism and a promise of future greatness, these projects can be seen as a powerful tool for social integration and political influence, connecting different regions with key cities.
“The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor will become two solid pillars for the progress of Rajasthan and the country,” he said on Sunday. “We are building a capable, capable and prosperous India.”
Above: Vehicles on a newly opened section of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Dausa, Rajasthan, on February 12, 2023. Photo via Getty Images.
