Delhi-Dehradun Expressway: NHAI Conducts Successful Trial Run On 31-Km Stretch | Check Route, Minimum Speed, Cost

Delhi-Dehradun Expressway: Travel time between the National Capital Region (NCR) and Dehradun, Uttarakhand's capital, is expected to plummet dramatically following the launch of the highly anticipated Delhi–Saharanpur–Dehradun Expressway. The successful trial run for this transformative project officially began earlier this week on a 31-km stretch starting from Akshardham to the Eastern Peripheral Expressway intersection (Phase I) at Baghpat, following the removal of barricades near Geeta Colony, signalling the imminent opening of this high-speed corridor.

According to NHAI officials, quoted by TOI, the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, whose foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 4, 2021, is expected to be open by the end of the month.

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Delhi-Dehradun Expressway: Project Details

- Length: 213 km

- Cost: Approximately 13,000 crore

- Lanes: 6 lanes (extendable up to 8 in some cases)

- Route: The expressway will connect the places of Delhi-Baghpat-Muzaffarnagar-Shamli-Saharanpur-Dehradun

- The minimum speed on this corridor is anticipated to be around 100 kmph.

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- The project was completed in four phases: Phase I (32 Km), Phase II (118 Km), Phase III (40 Km), Phase IV (19.5 Km). 

- A notable feature of the expressway is the 12-kilometre-long elevated corridor through the Rajaji National Park/Shivalik forest areas, which is the longest elevated corridor through a wildlife belt comprising elephants, leopards and deer.

- Additionally, a 340-meter-long tunnel is also built near the Daat Kali temple, Dehradun, which is part of the wildlife mitigation efforts by the NHAI.

- Once fully operational, the expressway will reduce the current 5-6 hour journey between the National capital to the state capital of Uttarakhand to approximately 2.5 hours.

- The expressway is also set to include modern rest areas and parking facilities with first-aid rooms, solar-powered lighting, EV charging points, and food kiosks.

- It may prove to be a catalyst for the people of Western Uttar Pradesh as well.

- In the future, the NHAI plans to link it to other key roads like the Saharanpur-Haridwar Expressway and the Ambala-Shamli Expressway