In a major step towards improving road connectivity in Delhi-NCR, the Centre has approved a new 30-km-long expressway that will connect Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida, and the upcoming Jewar International Airport

The new road will run parallel to the existing Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, tracing the Yamuna River’s path, and will link the current Pushta Road with both the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway and the Yamuna Expressway, according to a report by News18.

The proposal was first put forward by Gautam Buddha Nagar MP Dr Mahesh Sharma and recently received backing from Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.

During his visit to the Jewar airport site for a plantation drive under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, Gadkari assured that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) would take up the project and funding would not be a challenge.

Part of a larger development push

The expressway project is part of a much bigger infrastructure plan for Delhi-NCR. Gadkari noted that projects worth Rs 1.2 lakh crore are already in motion in the region, with nearly half of the work completed.

He also emphasised that the government is ready to invest another Rs 40,000-50,000 crore in the coming years.

The idea of building a riverside expressway was given in-principle clearance by the Noida Authority in March 2025 as part of a larger strategy to decongest the increasingly burdened Noida-Greater Noida Expressway.

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary had earlier tasked the Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) with its implementation, instructing a cost-sharing arrangement among Noida, Greater Noida, and Yamuna Expressway Authorities.

However, Noida officials suggested that NHAI should handle the construction to ensure better execution and reliable funding. With the Centre’s nod, this plan now looks set to move forward, pending a final approval from NHAI.

Easing heavy traffic burden

The 25-km-long Noida-Greater Noida Expressway currently carries around 5 lakh vehicles every day. Of these, about two lakh vehicles enter through the DND Flyway, while others come via Chilla Border, Kalindi Kunj, and major Noida sectors like 15, 16, 18, and 37. This daily load has increasingly led to congestion, particularly during peak hours.

Dr Mahesh Sharma explained that the new expressway will act as a much-needed bypass, allowing vehicles coming from Delhi to head directly to Jewar Airport without passing through the already crowded Noida Expressway. “To fully leverage Jewar Airport’s potential, building a direct and efficient road link is not just necessary, it’s urgent," News18 quoted Sharma as saying.

Jewar Airport’s launch

Notably, about 11 km of the Yamuna Pushta Road was previously opened to the public in 2014. However, it quickly fell into disrepair, developing potholes within a year and attracting minimal traffic due to safety concerns. Authorities are now keen to avoid a repeat, with the current project expected to use upgraded design standards and long-term durability planning under NHAI supervision.

The timing of this project is also significant as the Noida International Airport at Jewar is set to begin operations soon. According to Uttar Pradesh Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’, the airport will start domestic and cargo flights in September 2025, followed by international operations in November 2025