Delhi-Jaipur in 3 hours: Bandikui expressway trial run begins, toll-free for 10 days

Bandikui expressway

A trial run on the newly constructed Bandikui-Jaipur Link Expressway - a crucial connector between Jaipur and the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway - kicked off on Wednesday, marking a major leap in regional connectivity. The 66.91-kilometre, four-lane access-controlled expressway, built at a cost of Rs 1,368 crore, is expected to reduce travel time between Jaipur and Delhi to just 2.5 to 3 hours, down from the current 5-6 hours, according to IANS.

Constructed ahead of schedule by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the expressway allows vehicles to travel at speeds of up to 120 km/h. The trial run, which began at 8 am, will continue toll-free for ten days while officials conduct facility tests and quality checks.

"All preparations for toll collection are complete. As soon as we receive the green signal from higher authorities, toll operations will commence," said B.S. Joiya, Project Director of NHAI’s Dausa Unit, in a statement reported by IANS.

Once fully operational, the expressway will slash travel time between Bandikui and Jaipur to just 25–30 minutes, compared to the previous one-hour journey, as per the reports. It will also cut the trip from Gurugram to Bandikui to three hours.

The Khuri Interchange, now operational, will manage traffic flow from the Manoharpur-Kauthun highway, with additional interchanges expected to open in the coming days. The expressway links multiple major corridors, including the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and the Manoharpur-Kauthun Highway, enhancing seamless travel across the region.

During the trial, all vehicles - except tractors, motorcycles and other restricted categories - can use the expressway without toll charges. Proposed toll rates for private cars, as reported by IANS, include:

• Rs 150 for the 66.91 km Jaipur–Bandikui stretch
• Rs 550–₹560 for the full Jaipur–Bandikui–Sohna stretch
• Rs 130 for the Sohna–Gurugram six-lane highway
• Rs 680–₹690 total toll for the full Jaipur–Delhi journey