Top 5 Longest Expressways in India in 2025

You must have heard about the construction or inauguration of expressways in India through the news. But did you know that the longest expressway stretches over a 1000 km, and the widest expressway has 16 lanes. While the numbers are fascinating, there are many such amazing facts that will leave you in awe. 

In this blog, you will get to know a lot about expressways in India, rather than them just being a mode of transportation. So, what are we waiting for? Let’s begin. 

What are Expressways?

When it comes to expressways in India, they are basically the highest category of roads. Designed especially for heavy traffic and high-speed vehicular movement, these roads are access-controlled highways with a dual carriageway. 

Now, what is a Dual Carriageway you ask?

Dual carriageway, also known as divided carriageway is a road divided by a strip of land or barricade to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. This is how a dual carriageway or divided carriageway looks like: 

How are Expressways Different from Highways?

Though the term is often used interchangeably, they are different from one another. Let’s take a look at the key differences between them. 

Expressways in India 

• Expressways in India are managed by NHAI (National Highways Authorities of India. 

• They have limited access points and controlled entry and exit ways with minimal interactions. 

• Designed to limit the access of local vehicles, almost all the expressways have tolls.  

• Designed for constant traffic and less local vehicular presence, the expressways have multiple lanes connecting urban areas and major cities. 

• The speed limit on expressways is up to 120 km/h. Some of the expressways in India are Yamuna Expressway, Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, and Bundelkhand Expressway. 

Highways in India  

• National Highways in India are constructed and managed by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), and the Public Works Department (PWD). 

• In comparison to expressways, highways have more access points as well as intersections with mixed traffic flow including the local traffic. 

• The highways may not have separations and span across key areas in a city, and suburban, urban and rural regions. 

• With a speed limit of up to 100 km/h, the highways may or may not have toll stops. 

• Some of the examples of highways are NH8 (NH48) and NH7 (NH44). 

 

Now that you know the difference between expressways and highways. Let’s take a look at the longest expressways in India. 

Top 5 Longest Expressways in India

Delhi-Mumbai Expressway 

The 1st longest expressway in India in our list is the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. Do you remember, in the beginning of the blog, I told you that the longest expressway stretches over 1000 kms. Yes! Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is the name of that expressway, which is 1350 km long and 8 lane wide. Expandable to 12 lanes, Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is partially functional as it is currently under-construction. The full name of this expressway is Delhi-Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway. It is an access-controlled expressway that connects Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. The total cost of the project is Rs.1,00,000 crores approx. including the land acquisition cost, while the project is expected to be completed till the end of 2027. 

Mumbai- Nagpur Expressway 

Officially called Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, an also known as Samruddhi Mahamarg, Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway and Maharashtra Expressway-2 is a 701 km long, partially functional 6-land wide expressway. The expressway is expandable to 8 lanes and is access-controlled. Named among the longest greenfield road projects in India, the expressway connects two major cities, Mumbai and Nagpur. The total cost of the project is Rs. 55,000 crores, including the cost of land acquisition. 

Purvanchal Expressway

340.8 km long and 6 lane wide, Purvanchal Expressway is an access-controlled expressway that’s expandable to 8. Located in the state of Uttar Pradesh (UP), India, the expressway boasts an airstrip that is 3.2 Km long for emergency landing of aircraft. The air strip is located near Kurebhar at Akhalkiri Karwat village in Sultanpur district. Developed and managed by UPEIDA (Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority), the expressway passes through Lucknow, Barabanki, Amethi, Sultanpur, Ayodhya, Amedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, and Ghazipur, all in Uttar Pradesh. The total cost of the project is around Rs.22,494 crores which includes the land acquisition cost. 

Bundelkhand Expressway 

296 km long, Bundelkhand Expressway is a 4 land wide expressway that’s expandable to 6. Located in Uttar Pradesh, it is an access-controlled expressway, connecting Gonda village in NH35 (Chitrakoot district) with Kudrail village in Agra-Lucknow Expressway (Etawah district). Launched in April 2017, the expressway was inaugurated on 16th July 2022. Developed by UPEIDA (Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority), the total project cost is around Rs. 14,716 crores. 

Yamuna Expressway

Yamuna Expressway is 165 km long with 6 lanes, expandable to 8. Being one of the longest expressways in India, Yamuna Expressway connects Agra and Greater Noida. This access-controlled expressway was developed to reduce traffic congestion on Mathura Road or Delhi-Agra National Highway. Rs. 12,839 crores were invested to construct this expressway, which was later inaugurated by Akhilesh Yadav then UP Chief Minister on 9th Aug 2012. Yamuna Expressway has become one of the most prime locations for investors, home-buyers, and developers. Many reputed real estate developers have already developed many luxury projects in the Yamuna Expressway corridor.

These expressways are rapidly becoming real-estate micro-markets with the presence and development of many popular and high-end residential and commercial projects in these locations. If you are looking for a home in Gurgaon, Noida, or Pune, and that too in a prime location such as Dwarka Expressway or Yamuna Expressway, then all you need to do is visit Inframantra official website and put in your desired location. You will find a wide range of luxurious to ultra-luxurious properties all under one roof. Also, you can avail free property consultation and site visits of your preferred property. 

Want to read more such insightful blogs and articles? Keep reading. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which is the longest expressway in India?

Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is the longest expressway, which is 1350 km long and 8 lane wide and expandable to 12 lanes. 

Which is India’s first expressway?

Mumbai-Pune Expressway, which is officially known as Yashwantrao Chavan Expressway is the oldest and the first expressway in India. It is 94.5 km long, access-controlled, 6 lane expressway.

How many expressways are in India?

Currently, there are 23 expressways in India that are fully operational. 

What are Greenfield Expressways?

Greenfield Expressways are expressways that are designed 12-lane wide, with initial development of 8 lanes. These lanes have a maximum vehicle speed of 120 km/h. 

Which is the fastest expressway of India?

Mumbai-Pune Expressway is India’s fastest expressway that was opened in 2002, shortening travel-time from Mumbai to Pune to just one hour. It is also the first six lane expressway of India.