New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to inaugurate the Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) and the Dwarka Expressway this Sunday, promising a major boost to connectivity between northwest Delhi, Gurugram, and the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. Residents and urban planners say the two projects could significantly cut travel times, decongest arterial roads, and spur economic growth in one of Delhi’s fastest-growing zones.
The 75.7-km UER-II, built at a cost of around ₹7,700 crore, forms part of Delhi’s third Ring Road. Starting from NH-1 at Alipur in the north, it sweeps across Rohini, Mundka, Najafgarh, and Dwarka before merging with NH-48 near the Delhi-Gurugram border. It is designed to divert traffic from congested stretches such as the Outer Ring Road, Rohtak Road, and Ring Road, providing a bypass for heavy vehicles heading towards Haryana, Rajasthan, and beyond.
Running parallel is the Dwarka Expressway, India’s first elevated urban expressway, spanning 29 km, of which 18.9 km lies in Haryana and 10.1 km in Delhi. Built at a cost of over ₹9,000 crore, it will serve as an alternative to NH-48, directly connecting Dwarka’s Sector-21 to Gurugram’s Kherki Daula toll plaza. The expressway also links seamlessly with UER-II, creating an uninterrupted high-speed corridor for airport-bound and inter-state traffic.
For residents, the projects are being hailed as life-changers. “Reaching the airport from Rohini or Nangloi, Narela, Bawana currently takes well over 2 hours, especially during peak hours. With the UER-II, I expect it to come down to 30-35 minutes,” said Anil Bhatia, a Rohini-based , IT professional working in Gurugram. “Furthermore, for the first time, toll collection passage has also been installed on UER 2, which is worrisome,” he added.
Transport experts say the benefits go beyond shorter commute times. “Northwest Delhi has long suffered from poor east-west connectivity and overdependence on choked arterial roads. These projects redistribute traffic, lower vehicular emissions from idling, and open new development corridors,” said an urban transport planner.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) projects that the UER-II could reduce traffic load on the Outer Ring Road by up to 60%, while the Dwarka Expressway could ease NH-48 congestion by 50–60%, cutting travel time between Delhi and Gurugram by 20–25 minutes during rush hours.
However, urban development experts caution that infrastructure must be paired with last-mile connectivity. “Expressways alone cannot solve urban mobility challenges. Without robust feeder public transport and pedestrian access, benefits may be skewed towards private vehicle users,” said an official.
Local traders see strong economic potential. “With faster access to Gurugram and the airport, property values in places like Bawana, Narela, and Najafgarh are bound to rise. It will also attract warehouses and logistics hubs,” said Mudit Garg, who runs a wholesale business in Mundka.
As PM Modi cuts the ribbon this weekend, the two mega-projects will be closely watched as test cases for easing Delhi’s notorious congestion. If they deliver on their promise, northwest Delhi’s tag as the “most cut-off” part of the capital may soon be history.
