Delhi-Dehradun Expressway set to open in January 2025: All you need to know

Stretching across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the project entails special features that would enhance the travel experience on the route, including an elevated wildlife corridor, and introduction of various safety norms for commuters.

Here’s all you need to know about the Expressway:

When will the Expressway be open to public?

The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway will be open to public next year in the month of January.

What are the features of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway?

Divided into four sections, the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway will improve regional connectivity for daily commuters, starting from Delhi-Mumbai Expressway (DME) near Akshardham in Delhi, covering Shastri Park, Khajuri Khas, EPE interchange at Khekra in Mandola, Baghpat, Shamli, Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, all the way to Dehradun in Uttarakhand.

A 340-meter-long three-lane tunnel is also being constructed at Datkali in Dehradun at a cost of Rs 1,995 crore, as per the release.

Various special provisions have been made across the entire corridor catering both to commuters and wildlife in the region. The route from Ganeshpur to Dehradun has been reserved for wildlife, which would entail a 12-kilometres elevated road, six animal underpasses, two elephant underpasses, two major bridges and 13 minor bridges.

113 VUP (Vehicular Under Passes), LVUP (Light Vehicular Under Passes), SVUP (Small Vehicular Under Passes), 5 ROBs (Road Over Bridges), 4 major bridges and 62 bus shelters are under construction through the length of the Expressway, according to the release.

Apart from the 76-kilometre service road, 29-km elevated road, 16 entry-exit points are also being constructed on the Expressway, the statement read.

All these provisions would smoothen traffic flow, reduce congestion and increase safety for commuters along the route.

Further, this national highway will be connected to Haridwar through a 51-km six-lane Greenfield road, which is being constructed at a cost of Rs 2,095 crore.

What has the Ministry said?

During a site visit to the Expressway in the month of June this year, the Union Minister of State of Corporate Affairs, and Road, Transport and Highways Harsh Malhotra, had expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Expressway.

He stated that the Expressway would be instrumental in decongesting East Delhi’s Gandhi Nagar area and would also reduce the load on Delhi Meerut Expressway, according to a release.

In April 2023, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari too inspected the site.