Nitin Gadkari Inspects DND–Faridabad–Sohna Highway Project to Boost NCR Connectivity and Airport Link

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari today inspected the DND–Faridabad–Sohna Access Controlled Highway Project, being developed to enhance connectivity in the Delhi–NCR region and provide seamless access to the Noida International Airport at Jewar and the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway.

The inspection was carried out in the presence of the Chief Minister of NCT of Delhi, Smt. Rekha Gupta, Union Ministers of State Sh. Ajay Tamta, Sh. Harsh Malhotra and Sh. Krishan Pal Gurjar, Delhi PWD Minister Sh. Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, Haryana PWD Minister Sh. Ranbir Singh Gangwa, Member of Parliament from South Delhi Sh. Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, and former MP Sh. Ramesh Bidhuri.

Developed under the Bharatmala Pariyojana, the access-controlled highway project has a total length of approximately 59.063 km and an estimated cost of ₹4,463 crore. The corridor will connect Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurugram, and Sohna through a high-speed, six-lane access-controlled highway.

The project incorporates several advanced engineering features and modern construction technologies. One of its key highlights is the construction of a 140-metre-long Network Arch Bridge (NAB), among the most advanced steel bridge structures in India. The bridge has been designed using modern tied-arch technology with a crossed hanger arrangement, enhancing structural strength, durability, and resilience during seismic activity.

The project also employs several innovative construction methodologies, including the use of removable temporary steel pile supports over irrigation canals, precast segmental construction technology, launching girders, high-strength E450 steel, Grade 10.9 bolts, high-damping rubber bearings, and swivel expansion joints.

The highway project emphasizes sustainable and environment-friendly construction practices. Approximately 2 lakh metric tonnes of inert material generated from the bio-mining of the Okhla Landfill and Ghazipur Landfill have been utilized in road construction, reducing dependence on natural borrow materials. The project also includes noise barriers, landscaping, and plantation works.

Overall, the highway project represents a landmark infrastructure development showcasing modern bridge engineering, advanced construction technologies, sustainable practices, and improved regional connectivity. Once completed, it will significantly reduce travel time, improve traffic movement, promote economic growth, and strengthen transportation infrastructure across the NCR region.

DND–Faridabad Connectivity to Noida International Airport

With the objective of improving connectivity to the proposed Noida International Airport at Jewar—envisaged to reduce air traffic pressure on the Indira Gandhi International Airport—a dedicated connectivity project is being developed linking the airport to the DND–Faridabad Bypass in Haryana and the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway.

The project will also connect the Yamuna Expressway and the Eastern Peripheral Expressway. It involves the construction of a fully access-controlled highway from Chandawali village in Faridabad, Haryana to near Dayanapur in Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, with a six-lane divided carriageway using flexible pavement.

The 31.425 km-long expressway project is being constructed at an estimated cost of ₹2,360 crore. Upon completion, traffic coming from northern India will be able to access the Noida International Airport via the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE), thereby substantially reducing traffic pressure on Delhi.

Additionally, traffic from South Delhi, Faridabad, and Gurugram will be able to reach the airport directly and efficiently. The project includes four major interchanges located at the DND–Sohna Highway, Eastern Peripheral Expressway, Yamuna Expressway, and at the DFCC crossing, along with a Rail Over Bridge (ROB).

A proposed elevated corridor and an 8-lane ROB at the DFCCIL crossing will provide direct and faster connectivity from South Delhi, Faridabad, and Gurugram to the Noida International Airport at Jewar. The project is expected to boost economic growth and improve logistics efficiency across the National Capital Region (NCR).

The corridor forms an important part of the greenfield connectivity between the DND–Ballabhgarh Bypass and the Noida International Airport, linking it with the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway. It also passes through areas identified under the Faridabad Master Plan 2031, which are designated for high-density urban development and future infrastructure expansion.