New Delhi. The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway being built between the national capital and Dehradun will not be open for traffic yet. In a reply given in the Rajya Sabha in July, the government had said that it would open by October 2025. But, this has not happened. According to a report in Hindustan Times, it is now expected to open in February 2026. The new target has been set following instructions from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), which said that the project should be inaugurated only when all its phases are completely ready.
Delhi-Dehradun Expressway is 210 kilometers long. With its construction, the travel time between the two cities will reduce from 6 hours to 2 hours. This 210 km long expressway, being built at a cost of about ₹ 11,868.6 crore, is one of the most ambitious road projects in North India. It was initially targeted to be completed in December 2024, but technical hurdles and environmental challenges in construction slowed down its pace. This expressway will start from Akshardham in Delhi and reach Dehradun via Baghpat, Baraut, Shamli and Saharanpur.
What is the real reason for the delay?
According to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials, there was seasonal river flooding in some areas during the monsoon, due to which safety and security related work had to be stopped. Especially in the Daat Kali temple area of Dehradun, the work of slope protection, installation of mobile towers and finishing tunnel is still pending. Officials say that all these works will be completed by November 2025.
The work is divided into four sections
First section: It extends from Akshardham to Khekra (Baghpat). Already completed six months ago. On September 8, when there were local floods in Delhi, many two-wheeler riders themselves started passing through this expressway by removing the barriers to avoid the traffic.
Second section: It is from Baghpat to Saharanpur which is almost completed, only final touch work is going on in some parts.
Third section: The old section from Saharanpur bypass to Ganeshpur is being widened, which is now at an advanced stage.
Fourth section: In this section, security and finishing work is still going on on the elevated section of Dehradun.
Asia’s longest ‘green corridor’
The biggest feature of this expressway is its 12 kilometer long elevated corridor, which passes through Rajaji National Park. This will be Asia’s longest elevated section, which is being built in an environment-friendly manner. Six animal underpasses are being prepared here so that there is no hindrance in the movement of wildlife. The expressway includes more than 100 underpasses, five railway overbridges, and direct connectivity to major routes connecting Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, Eastern Peripheral Expressway, Haridwar and Roorkee.
