New Delhi:
India’s Infrastructure Leap in 2025: New Connections and Enhanced Mobility
As the calendar flips to 2025, India is poised to witness a significant leap in its infrastructure development, transforming the way people travel and connect across the country. This year promises to be a milestone in India’s quest for modernization, with several long-awaited projects nearing completion.
Train Connectivity to Kashmir and Delhi-Meerut RRTS
In the early weeks of 2025, India will finally achieve a decades-long aspiration with the inauguration of broad-gauge railway connectivity to Kashmir. This all-weather line, part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), will revolutionize travel to the region. The first train, a Vande Bharat sleeper, is set to be flagged off soon, marking a historic moment as there has been no direct train from Delhi or other major Indian cities to Kashmir until now.
Simultaneously, the commercial services of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) from Meerut to Delhi are expected to commence. This system, which has already seen operational sections between Ghaziabad and Meerut, will provide a faster, cheaper, and more convenient mode of transport for commuters traveling between Meerut and Delhi.
National Highway Projects
In addition to these rail projects, several critical national highway initiatives are also on the verge of completion. The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, for instance, is set to be partially operational this month, with the full stretch expected to be open by March. This expressway will significantly reduce travel time from Delhi to Dehradun, cutting it down from five to six hours to just two to two-and-a-half hours.
The Bengaluru-Chennai expressway, another major project, is also slated for completion in 2025. Spanning 262 kilometers and costing over Rs 17,930 crore, this expressway will connect parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, enhancing regional connectivity.
Although the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway has faced delays and is now expected to be fully operational in 2026, some sections are already open for use, offering a glimpse into the future of high-speed road travel in India.
Enhanced Air Connectivity
Air travel is also set to receive a boost with the operationalization of two new airports: the Noida International Airport in Jewar and the Navi Mumbai International Airport. Both airports are expected to start operations in April 2025. The Noida International Airport is designed to handle 12 million passengers annually, while the Navi Mumbai Airport will have the capacity to handle 60 million passengers and 1.5 million tonnes of cargo annually, making it one of the largest greenfield international airports in the country.
Special Infrastructure Projects
Other notable infrastructure projects include the Pamban Bridge, India’s first vertical lift railway bridge, which will connect Rameswaram to the Tamil Nadu mainland. This bridge, replacing the over 100-year-old non-operational Pamban rail bridge, will enhance train speeds and increase traffic between the mainland and Rameswaram, also boosting the region’s tourism potential.
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