New Delhi, March 11, 2025 – Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that the government will launch express highways within the next two to three months, cutting travel time between major cities, including a significant reduction on the Delhi-Amritsar route.
Delhi-Amritsar in 4 Hours
Currently, the road journey from Delhi to Amritsar takes around 8 hours. The new expressway will slash this time to just 4 hours, transforming connectivity between the national capital and Punjab’s cultural hub.
“In two to three months, travel time between Delhi and Amritsar will be halved. This will provide a huge boost to trade and tourism,” Gadkari said at the Seventh International Conference on Soaps, Detergents and Cosmetics.
Major Travel Time Reductions
Besides Delhi-Amritsar, other key routes set for faster travel include:
Delhi to Dehradun – from 7–8 hours to 2 hours
Delhi to Jaipur – from 5 hours to 2 hours
Chennai to Bengaluru – from 6 hours to 2 hours
Bengaluru to Mysuru – from 3 hours to 1 hour
Mumbai to Delhi – from 24 hours to 12 hours by car
Lower Logistics Costs to Boost Competitiveness
Gadkari stressed that high logistics costs—14–16% of GDP—hurt India’s global competitiveness. The government aims to cut this to 9% of GDP within two years. Improved road infrastructure is expected to reduce transport costs and boost exports.
“Lower logistics costs will make Indian goods more competitive in the global market,” Gadkari noted.
Push for Alternative Fuels
Gadkari highlighted the shift towards biofuels and green hydrogen to reduce India’s ₹22 lakh crore annual fuel import bill. Bio-ethanol is now being produced from molasses, broken rice, and food grains.
Strengthening India’s Trade Position
Gadkari urged industries to reduce production costs instead of seeking GST cuts. He said improved infrastructure and logistics would help reduce production costs and increase India’s competitiveness in global markets.
