Dehradun: The much-awaited Delhi-Dehradun Expressway project, which aims to reduce the travel time between Delhi and Dehradun from 6 hours to just 2.5 hours, is in its final stages. Especially in Dehradun section, work is going on at a fast pace. The residents and tourists of Uttarakhand will benefit directly from this.
Delhi-Dehradun Expressway is divided into four main sections. Its fourth and last section is from Rajaji National Park to Dehradun. The last 20 kilometer stretch between Biharigarh (Saharanpur) to Dehradun is almost completely ready. This section also includes the Datkali Tunnel, which is approximately 340 meters long and is a part of a 2 km tunnel. This tunnel was completed in August 2022 itself and facilitates traffic in the hilly area.
The 12 km long elevated wildlife corridor passing through the sensitive area of Rajaji National Park and Shivalik Reserve Forest is also an important part of this section. It is considered to be the longest elevated wildlife corridor in Asia. It has been designed to ensure safe movement of wild animals. Its construction is also in its final stages.
According to National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officials, this stretch from Dehradun to Bihargarh (Saharanpur) (which includes the 12 km elevated route from Asharodi to Ganeshpur) has been opened for vehicles on a trial basis.
The first phase of about 32 km from Akshardham to Eastern Peripheral Expressway Junction (Baghpat) in Delhi has recently been opened for trial run (in December 2025). This elevated part is helping the passengers to avoid the heavy traffic of Delhi.
Traveling from Delhi to Dehradun will become easier in the year 2026
The initial target date of this ambitious project of PM Modi was December 2024, but it has been delayed due to several technical, environmental and land acquisition challenges. According to official sources, now the entire expressway is expected to be completely opened to the public by February 2026. Whereas it is also being speculated that PM Modi can gift it to the people by inaugurating it in the first week of January 2026.
The total length of this six-lane access-controlled greenfield expressway will be 210 kilometers, which will connect Dehradun to Delhi in just two and a half hours. It is also being seen as a model of conservation of wildlife because their habitat i.e. forests has not been much affected. A 12 km elevated corridor and six underpasses have been built in Rajaji National Park for the safe movement of animals. To harvest rain water, water harvesting pits and more than 400 water recharge points have been built every 500 metres.
Dehradun’s senior journalist Kuldeep Rana said that it will be easy for the tourists from Delhi to reach Dehradun and after the construction of this expressway, the traffic will become very smooth for the people living in all the districts of Uttarakhand including Dehradun. People will be able to go from Dehradun to Delhi and from Delhi to Dehradun easily, which will save their time and fuel. The economy of Dehradun will get a boost, but it may also pose a challenge for the state government in the future because due to easy travel, tourists will come here in large numbers, which will create pressure on population and vehicles in the city. That is why the state government should also formulate strategies after considering all the aspects in advance so that the state can be promoted in the tourism sector which is friendly to the environment and the local residents.
