The data from the police suggests that smugglers greatly rely on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway for its speed and absence of interstate check posts.
The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway’s plan was to cut the travel time and increase interstate trade. However, the constant delays in construction have emerged as a problematic issue. It’s because the parts of the expressway, which are already operational are now being used for the smuggling of liquor into Gujarat. The data from the police suggests that smugglers greatly rely on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway for its speed and absence of interstate check posts.
Delhi-Mumbai Expressway – liquor smuggling route
As per the police, the bootleggers see this expressway as an easy and fast path to bring smuggled liquor into Gujarat. The operational route between Delhi and part of Madhya Pradesh is unnamed. This lets the vehicles cover long distances through it. Reportedly, the smugglers enter Gujarat and pass through Dahod. They then move through the region of Madhya Pradesh so that the traditional route of check posts can be avoided.
Smuggling in Gujarat
Dahod police seized 16 vehicles between September and November that were carrying liquor using the Delhi-Mumbai expressway. More than 7,000 cartons of Indian-made foreign liquor were seized, which cost nearly Rs. 10 crore. Recently, the police took hold of drugs worth Rs. 14 lakh from the expressway.
Construction delay on the Gujarat route
Three major packages on the Gujarat section were given to the Roadway Solutions India Infra Ltd in 2021. However, less than 20 per cent of the work has been finished in the time period of almost four years. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had cancelled two contracts in the year 2023 because of continuous delays, but the projects were given again to the firm after rebidding.
