Travelling from Noida to Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi has just become smoother and faster after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated two landmark infrastructure projects on Sunday, August 17: the 76-km Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II), designed as Delhi’s third Ring Road, and the 29-km Dwarka Expressway, both of which are expected to help ease the city’s traffic challenges.
The new expressways were developed at a combined cost of nearly INR 11,000 crore and aim to reduce congestion, cut travel times and improve regional connectivity. Here's what you need to know about them.
The 76-km UER-II will enhance connectivity between seven key cities across Delhi and the national capital region (NCR), including Mundka, Bakkarwala, Najafgarh, Dwarka, Chandigarh, Rohtak and Sonipat. It runs from Alipur to Mahipalpur near the airport and was built at a cost of INR 7,716 crore.
According to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the UER-II was developed under the Delhi Master Plan 2021 and spans 54 km within Delhi and 21 km in Haryana. The corridor includes eight lanes, service roads, four multi-level interchanges and multiple underpasses.
Meanwhile, the 29-kilometre Delhi stretch of the Dwarka Expressway extends from the Kherki Daula toll plaza to Shiv Murti at Mahipalpur and was built at a cost of INR 9,000 crore. Along with the Gurugram stretch, the two corridors are expected to ease pressure on Delhi’s arterial roads, offering uninterrupted access to the airport, Gurugram and Jaipur.
The expressway connects directly to UER-II and provides smooth access to key hubs such as Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, the Delhi Metro’s Blue and Airport Express lines, the upcoming Bijwasan railway station, and the Dwarka bus depot.
With their opening, travellers from Noida and western suburbs now have a direct, 20-minute run to IGI Airport—a relief long awaited by daily commuters.
The Urban Extension-II (UER II) road is a 75.7 km-long, six-laned expressway in Delhi-NCR. It starts from National Highway 44 at Alipur and passes through Rohini, Mundka, Najafgarh and Dwarka, before ending at the Delhi–Gurugram Expressway on National Highway 48 near Mahipalpur.
The Dwarka Expressway, which spans a total of 29 km, has been developed in two parts across Delhi and Haryana. The Delhi stretch, at 10.1 km, includes a 5.1-km tunnel that directly connects the corridor to the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, providing faster and easier access for air travellers. The Haryana section runs for 29 km between Mahipalpur and Kherki Daula on National Highway 48.
According to officials, the opening of the UER-II will cut travel time to IGI Airport from over two hours to just 20-40 minutes. It will provide direct access to Bahadurgarh and Sonipat, improve connectivity to industrial hubs, and facilitate faster movement of goods across the National Capital Region. Travelling to Chandigarh, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Jaipur, and even Mumbai will become faster and more convenient, too, according to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
The Dwarka Expressway provides a direct, high-speed link between IGI Airport and Gurugram, bypassing choke points like Dhaula Kuan and Mukarba Chowk. It is directly integrated with the Delhi Metro Blue and Airport lines and bus depots.
(With inputs from multiple news reports)