India’s highway map is being redrawn at unprecedented speed. As of early 2025, the country has over 6,000 kilometres of operational expressways and more than 11,000 kilometres under construction. The next three years are set to mark a turning point, with a series of mega expressway projects scheduled to open between 2026 and 2028.
These corridors are not simply infrastructure upgrades. They are economic multipliers. Faster freight movement, reduced travel time, lower logistics costs and new development zones are expected to follow in their wake. For real estate, manufacturing and regional commerce, the ripple effects could be transformative.
Here is a closer look at ten major expressways that are set to reshape India’s connectivity landscape.
Bengaluru–Vijayawada Expressway
Estimated to cost around Rs. 19,200–19,320 crore, this six-lane corridor spanning roughly 518–624 kilometres will connect Bengaluru in Karnataka to Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. Passing through Devanahalli, Kadiri, Kanigiri, Podili, Addanki and Guntur, the project is expected to open by 2026–27.
The corridor will strengthen southern freight movement, reduce travel time between Karnataka and coastal Andhra Pradesh, and support industrial and logistics hubs emerging along the route.
Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway
With an estimated cost of Rs. 40,000 crore and a length of 670 kilometres, expandable to eight lanes, this corridor will connect Delhi to Katra in Jammu and Kashmir via key cities including Rohtak, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar.
Expected to open by mid-2026, the expressway will significantly cut travel time to religious and commercial centres while enhancing connectivity in northern India. It is poised to stimulate tourism, trade and industrial activity across Punjab and Jammu.
Mumbai–Pune Expressway Missing Link
A 13.3-kilometre, eight-lane stretch costing around Rs. 6,700 crore will bridge the final gap between Khopoli and Kusgaon on the existing Mumbai–Pune Expressway. Slated for completion by May 2026, this missing link will eliminate bottlenecks and improve safety on one of India’s busiest corridors.
For the Mumbai–Pune industrial belt, the impact will be immediate in terms of smoother traffic flow and reduced congestion.
Amas–Darbhanga Expressway
This Rs. 6,000 crore project will span 189 kilometres, connecting Amas near Gaya to Darbhanga in Bihar. Initially four lanes and expandable to six, it is expected to open by the end of 2026.
The corridor will strengthen connectivity within Bihar, linking central and northern districts and enhancing access to Patna. It is expected to accelerate regional economic integration in the state.
Chennai–Nashik Expressway
Among the most ambitious projects, the Rs. 45,000 crore Chennai–Nashik Expressway will stretch nearly 900 kilometres across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Planned as a six-lane corridor, it is expected to be operational between 2027 and early 2028.
By linking southern and western India more directly, the project will bolster freight corridors and reduce dependence on congested routes.
Ghaziabad–Kanpur Expressway
Estimated at around Rs. 1,500 crore, this 320-kilometre, four-lane corridor expandable to six lanes will connect Ghaziabad to Kanpur via Hapur, Aligarh, Farrukhabad and Unnao. It is expected to open at the start of 2027.
The expressway will improve east–west connectivity across Uttar Pradesh, supporting industrial clusters and easing cargo movement within the state.
Pune Outer Ring Road
With an estimated cost of Rs. 42,000 crore and a total length of 173 kilometres, the Pune Outer Ring Road will encircle the city, easing congestion and diverting heavy traffic away from urban cores. The western section is targeted for completion by 2026, while the eastern section is expected by 2028.
The project is likely to unlock peripheral real estate markets and facilitate planned urban expansion.
Varanasi–Ranchi–Kolkata Expressway
This 610-kilometre corridor, estimated at Rs. 35,000 crore and expandable to eight lanes, will connect Varanasi to Kolkata through Bihar and Jharkhand. The Bihar section is expected by 2027, with full completion by 2028.
The route will enhance inter-state trade and strengthen east–west freight movement, benefiting mineral-rich and industrial regions.
Raipur–Koraput–Visakhapatnam Expressway
Costing around Rs. 20,000 crore and spanning 465 kilometres, this six-lane corridor will link Raipur in Chhattisgarh to Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh via Odisha. Expected by late 2026, it will provide a critical logistics artery for mineral and industrial transport.
Improved port connectivity will further enhance export competitiveness for central Indian industries.
Ludhiana–Bathinda Expressway
This 76-kilometre corridor in Punjab, costing approximately Rs. 2,500 crore, is scheduled for completion by the end of 2028. It will streamline connectivity between two major industrial cities and improve freight efficiency within the state.
Beyond Roads: Economic Multipliers
Expressways are often measured in kilometres and crores, but their real impact lies in what follows. Reduced travel time lowers transportation costs. Cheaper logistics improves competitiveness for manufacturers and retailers. Land along corridors becomes viable for warehousing, housing and commercial development.
As these ten projects move toward completion, India’s transport grid is becoming denser and more integrated. With thousands of kilometres under construction and several corridors opening by 2026–28, the country is entering a phase where connectivity becomes a strategic growth lever.
These highways are not merely stretches of asphalt. They are economic corridors that will shape urbanisation patterns, investment flows and regional development for decades to come.
