The much-awaited six-lane elevated corridor on NH-148A, stretching from the DND Flyway to Sohna, is in its final stages of construction and is expected to open for traffic within the next few months. Once operational, this 59-km stretch — part of the 91-km NH-148A — will provide a direct, signal-free route from Delhi-Noida to Sohna, Ballabgarh, and further south towards Palwal, and eventually connect to the upcoming Noida International Airport at Jewar.

For years, commuters travelling from south and east Delhi to Gurugram, Manesar, and the industrial belts of Faridabad have been forced to take long detours through congested city roads or the perpetually jammed Delhi-Mumbai Expressway entry points. The new corridor will cut travel time between DND and Sohna to under 45 minutes during peak hours, compared to the current two hours or more. More importantly, it will open up large tracts of land along the route for planned urban and industrial development, giving a fresh push to the National Capital Region’s expansion beyond Gurugram and Noida.

The DND Flyway itself has remained one of the most critical arteries of the NCR since it opened in 2001. Over two lakh vehicles cross this 9.2-km stretch between Delhi and Noida every day, making it one of the busiest toll roads in the country. The flyway has directly spurred the growth of commercial hubs, housing societies, IT parks, and educational institutions on both sides of the Yamuna. Real estate prices in sectors along the Noida Expressway and Greater Noida rose sharply after the DND became operational, and a similar ripple effect is now expected along the DND-Sohna corridor.

Work on the elevated section gained pace after the National Highways Authority of India handed over the project to a private concessionaire under the build-operate-transfer model. The corridor runs parallel to the existing Delhi-Mathura road but remains elevated for most of its length, avoiding local traffic lights and level crossings. Interchanges have been planned at key points, including near Ballabgarh and the upcoming Faridabad bypass, to ensure smooth entry and exit.

At the same time, the Noida Toll Bridge Company Limited (NTBCL), which operates and maintains the DND Flyway, has taken up the second phase of rehabilitation and strengthening of the original structure. This phase includes micro-surfacing of the carriageway, repair of expansion joints, embankment protection works, and upgrading of drainage systems. The company has stated that the exercise is aimed at extending the life of the flyway and handling the increased load once the Sohna corridor starts feeding additional traffic onto the DND.

Authorities believe the completed corridor will not only ease congestion on the Faridabad-Gurugram road and the old NH-71B but also attract fresh investment into areas that have remained underdeveloped despite being part of the NCR. Logistics and warehousing companies are already in talks with the Haryana government for land parcels near the corridor, while several residential and commercial developers have launched or revived projects in Sohna and nearby sectors.

The link assumes even greater significance with the Noida International Airport scheduled to begin operations by late 2025. Once the airport opens, the DND-Sohna-Jewar route will serve as one of the fastest surface connections between Delhi and the new airport, reducing dependence on the Yamuna Expressway for travellers coming from central and south Delhi.

Commuters and residents along the corridor have welcomed the development, though many have pointed out the need for last-mile connectivity and feeder bus services to make full use of the elevated road. The Haryana government has assured that parallel service lanes and underpasses for local traffic are part of the plan and will be completed in the next phase.

As the finishing touches are applied to the elevated structure, one thing is clear: the DND-Sohna link is not just another highway project. It is a vital piece of infrastructure that will knit together different parts of the NCR more tightly, bring down logistics costs, create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, and unlock the economic potential of areas that have long waited for their turn in the region’s growth story.

Anand Prabhakar is a lawyer turned communicator. He regularly writes on socio-legal topics that affect the lives of the masses.

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The Delhi-Noida Direct (DND) Flyway stands as a key link in the National Capital Region’s road network, cutting down travel time between South Delhi and Noida to under 15 minutes on a good day. Opened in February 2001, this 9.2-km eight-lane expressway crosses the Yamuna river with a 552-metre main bridge and connects Maharani Bagh in Delhi to Sector 15A in Noida. Before its launch, commuters faced long delays on older routes like Kalindi Kunj road. Today, over one lakh vehicles use it daily, easing pressure on other paths and boosting movement of people and goods across the region. Built at a cost of around Rs 408 crore, it was India’s first major road project with electronic toll collection lanes.

The DND Flyway came up under the Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model, a form of Public-Private Partnership (PPP). An agreement signed in 1997 involved the Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS), Noida Authority, and Delhi government. The Noida Toll Bridge Company Limited (NTBCL) handled construction, with work awarded to Japan’s Mitsui-Marubeni Corporation. Noida Authority holds a small equity stake. This setup allowed private funds and expertise to build the road fast, completing it ahead of schedule. A 1.5-km extension to Mayur Vihar opened in 2008, further smoothing access to east Delhi. The project showed how PPP can bridge gaps where public money falls short, especially across state borders.

Better connectivity through DND Flyway sparked big changes in Delhi-NCR. It links directly to the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway on one end and Delhi’s Ring Road on the other. Recent additions like the Ashram flyover extension, opened in March 2023, help skip three traffic signals and cut congestion at key spots. Ongoing work on NH-148A will connect DND to Sohna and further to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, with parts expected ready by the end of this year 2025. This will open direct routes to Faridabad, Jewar airport, Jaipur, and beyond, easing load on NH-44 and NH-48. Another link to Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway under Bharatmala will improve ties to Haryana and western UP.

Noida has seen sharp growth thanks to this road. What started as an industrial area in 1976 turned into a major IT and commercial hub. Sectors near DND, like 2, 12, and 22, now host multinational firms, business parks, and the Noida Special Economic Zone. Real estate boomed as offices and homes sprang up along the expressway. Property prices rose steadily, with rental yields around 3-4 per cent in prime spots. Educational institutes and retail outlets followed, drawing families and professionals. The flyway made Noida a preferred satellite town, close to Delhi jobs but with more space. Upcoming projects like Noida International Airport at Jewar will add more push, creating jobs and demand for housing.

The PPP model brought private efficiency to public infrastructure needs. Government land and clearances joined hands with private funds to finish the project much faster than what full public funding often manages. NHAI has since rolled out similar setups for hundreds of highways, including Toll-Operate-Transfer deals. NTBCL played a big role in this success—handling construction through global partners, completing the flyway ahead of time, and maintaining it in top condition for years with regular upgrades. Early delivery gave users quick relief from traffic jams, while private upkeep ensured smooth rides and fewer breakdowns. This hands-on approach by NTBCL turned DND into a reliable lifeline, setting a solid example for private players in road building across the country.

Despite hurdles, DND Flyway sets an example for PPP in roads. National Highways Authority of India has awarded concessions for projects worth lakhs of crores under this model. It proves private players can deliver quality when contracts balance risks. For Delhi-NCR, it turned Noida from outskirts to a bustling centre. As more links like DND-Sohna and elevated roads to Sector 57 come up, the region will get even tighter knit.

In the coming years, PPP will remain crucial for infra push. With India aiming for world-class roads, models like BOOT can speed things up without straining public budgets. DND Flyway’s story highlights the gains: shorter commutes, booming economies, and liveable cities. As Noida grows further with Jewar airport and metro expansions, the foundation laid by this expressway will keep paying off for millions in Delhi-NCR.

K. Fernandes is an academician, infrastructure strategist, and advisor on public-private partnerships (PPP) with extensive experience in urban development, investment planning, and policy formulation. He has worked closely with government bodies, multilateral institutions, and private stakeholders to design and implement sustainable infrastructure solutions. As a thought leader in urban transformation and infrastructure finance, he brings a unique amalgamation of academic insight and practical expertise to the evolving landscape of India’s development story.

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