The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, a mega infrastructure project worth ₹11,868.6 crore, is set to become fully operational today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the expressway, which will significantly reduce travel time between Delhi and Dehradun from six hours to just 2.5 hours.
The expressway, spanning across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, has been built at a total cost of ₹11,868.6 crore and was originally slated for completion by December 2024. The project was launched in February 2021, with Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari laying the foundation stone.
The expressway features more than 100 underpasses and five railway overbridges, providing seamless connectivity with major expressways such as the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and the Eastern Peripheral Expressway.
A major highlight of the expressway is the 12-km elevated wildlife corridor through Rajaji National Park, designed to ensure safe animal movement. It includes six animal underpasses, eight animal passes, two 200-metre-long elephant underpasses, and a 370-metre tunnel near the Daat Kali temple.
The expressway has been developed in four phases, with Phase 1 covering a 32-km, 12-lane stretch from Akshardham Temple in Delhi to the Eastern Peripheral Expressway near Baghpat. The corridor is also equipped with an Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) to enhance safety and improve traffic efficiency.
