Once operational, the expressway is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Delhi and Dehradun from around six hours to nearly two-and-a-half hours, offering a faster and more efficient route for commuters.
Inspections and safety checks ongoing
Officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) have conducted inspections of a 74-kilometre stretch of the project, which includes a 12-kilometre wildlife corridor designed to minimise environmental impact. Project Director Narendra Singh and his team reviewed progress at multiple locations in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur district and issued necessary directions to ensure timely completion.
Flood mitigation measures incorporated
Given the risk of flooding in the Dehradun region during the monsoon, specific structural reinforcements have been implemented. Of the 575 pillars in the elevated section, 24 have been strengthened with increased thickness to withstand strong water currents. This elevated stretch, spanning around 12 kilometres, runs from Mohand to Dehradun.
Eco-corridor and trial operations
A 12-kilometre elevated section between Dat Kali Temple and Ganeshpur has been completed and has been undergoing vehicle trials since December 28. Passing through Rajaji National Park, the stretch is considered part of Asia’s longest eco-corridor, aimed at ensuring uninterrupted wildlife movement.
Key infrastructure features
The project includes a three-lane tunnel near Datkali Temple, built at an estimated cost of ₹1,995 crore. The tunnel measures 340 metres in length, 11 metres in width, and 7 metres in height. Additional infrastructure features include six animal underpasses, two elephant underpasses, 113 other underpasses, 76 kilometres of service roads, 62 bus shelters, 16 entry-exit points, and five railway overbridges.
Project cost and timeline
The 210-kilometre, six-lane expressway—stretching from Akshardham in Delhi to Dehradun via Saharanpur—is being developed at an estimated cost of around ₹13,000 crore. Construction began in December 2021 and was initially slated for completion in 2024, but has faced delays of over a year.
With the project nearing completion, its opening is expected to ease travel and improve regional connectivity between Delhi, western Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
