A 55 km stretch of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway between Limkheda and Godhra in Gujarat opened to regular traffic this month, nearly two months after it first ran on trial. Toll collection on this piece is still switched off, and it stays that way only until November 1. If you are planning a Dussehra or Diwali drive through Gujarat or Madhya Pradesh this year, this is the update that changes your route.
What Actually Opened, and Where
The new section runs through Dahod district and covers two construction packages: Package 27 (Bhimpura to Limkheda, about 29 km) and Package 28 (Limkheda to the Godhra interchange, about 26 km). Gujarat-focused outlet DeshGujarat, which first reported the trial run in August and the official opening this month, says the stretch is now open to all motorists, not just pilot traffic.
This is a different piece of road from the Mumbai-Vadodara stretch we covered in August. That one sits further south, closer to Mumbai. This one is further north and east, in the stretch of Gujarat that borders Madhya Pradesh.
Why the Toll Is Off Right Now
The Limkheda toll plaza, part of Package 28, is running on a preliminary basis while final systems are commissioned. Regular toll collection is scheduled to begin on November 1. Earlier reports said tolls for this stretch were being collected at the Godhra plaza instead while Limkheda was not yet live. Either way, budget for toll charges to apply by the time you actually drive it over Diwali.
One practical warning: there are no petrol pumps or restaurants on this section yet. Fill your tank and carry water and snacks before you get on, the way you would for any new expressway stretch in its first year.
How Much of the Corridor Can You Actually Drive Now
With Limkheda to Godhra now open, and the Godhra to Vadodara section having opened on trial back in April, Gujarat’s share of the expressway is largely continuous down toward Vadodara. On the Delhi side, motorists can already drive uninterrupted as far south as Thandla, just across the Madhya Pradesh border.
The one piece still missing is Package 26, the gap between Limkheda and the Madhya Pradesh border. NHAI-linked reports put its completion at December 2026 or January 2027. Close that gap, and a driver could in theory go from Gujarat all the way to Delhi without leaving the expressway. Until then, expect one detour back onto older national highways around that border stretch.
| Section | Status | Note |
| Delhi to Thandla (MP) | Open | Continuous drive, per government statements |
| Thandla to Limkheda border (Pkg 26) | Under construction | Expected December 2026 or January 2027 |
| Limkheda to Godhra (Pkg 27, 28) | Open (Oct 2026) | Toll-free until November 1 |
| Godhra to Vadodara | Open on trial since April 2026 | Full commissioning pending |
Is the Whole Expressway Finished Yet
No. Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari said in July 2026 that the project, budgeted at roughly ₹1.10 lakh crore, was 75-80 per cent complete, and he pledged full completion within two years, putting the realistic target around 2028. The corridor’s total length is usually quoted at around 1,350 km, though government statements and news reports have cited figures from 1,350 km to 1,445 km as individual packages were added or revised, so treat the exact number as approximate rather than fixed.
The expressway keeps getting longer in pieces, not all at once. For a Gujarat-Madhya Pradesh road trip this festive season, that one missing link near the state border still means a short detour, not a clean run.
What This Means If You Are Riding, Not Driving
If you are on two wheels, this new section will not help you. Access-controlled expressways across India, including this one, do not permit motorcycles, a restriction we detailed in our report on India’s expanding but bike-unfriendly expressway network. Riders heading through this corridor will still use the older NH48 and parallel state highways alongside it.
Should You Change Your Festive Travel Route
If your drive already routes through Dahod, Limkheda or Godhra, yes, worth it. The new section is a straight, toll-free run for now, and genuinely faster than the older state highway it replaces. If your trip runs through the Thandla border gap, keep your usual route bookmarked, since that detour is not going away before the new year.
For toll budgeting on the sections that do charge, NHAI’s own FASTag Annual Pass, which we broke down here, covers about 1,150 toll plazas nationwide for ₹3,075 a year. It is worth the sum only if you are crossing plazas often enough to clear that amount, which a once-a-festival road trip usually will not.
Is the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway fully open?
No. As of October 2026, it is roughly 75-80 per cent complete by the government’s own account, with one confirmed gap near the Gujarat-Madhya Pradesh border still under construction and expected by December 2026 or January 2027.
Is toll free on the new Limkheda-Godhra section?
For now, yes. The Limkheda toll plaza is running without charging while it is commissioned, but regular toll collection is scheduled to start on November 1, 2026.
Can I ride a motorcycle on this new expressway section?
No. Like nearly all of India’s new access-controlled expressways, two-wheelers are not permitted. Riders should plan to use NH48 or the parallel state highway instead.
