Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma will inspect the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway on Wednesday. The inspection will focus on assessing the construction work and roadway condition from the Laban Interchange to the Dara Tunnel. Gadkari will travel by road from Delhi to Kota, inspecting the expressway along the way.
CM Bhajanlal Sharma will arrive at the Laban Interchange by helicopter, while Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will reach the site by road after attending a program in Khatoli. The inspection is set to commence around 3:30 p.m., with a review of construction work at the Dara Tunnel. Extensive preparations have been made by officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the district administration for the visit.
Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar, Energy Minister Hiralal Nagar, and Ladpura MLA Kalpana Devi are expected to accompany the delegation. Repair work on the expressway has been intensified ahead of Gadkari’s visit, with crews working round the clock to address safety concerns such as potholes. Construction within the tunnel passing through the Mukundara Tiger Reserve has also been expedited.
After the inspection, Gadkari is scheduled to depart for Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh. The completion of the Dara Tunnel has faced multiple delays, leading to a nearly Rs 100 crore increase in project costs. Commuters have been experiencing frequent traffic congestion at Dara Nala due to the prolonged delay, according to officials. It is anticipated that traffic may be allowed through the tunnel in about a month, with one carriageway completed and remaining work aligned with safety audit recommendations. The final stages of construction on the second four-lane tunnel are currently underway.
