People who frequently travel between Delhi and Dehradun must spend at least 7-8 hours driving. However, this will soon change because a new Delhi to Dehradun expressway will open by the end of this year. The expressway, which will be inaugurated by the end of the year, will cut the duration of people’s travel by only 2.5 hours.
This new route will be especially helpful for residents of east and north-east Delhi, who currently have to travel all the way to NH98 or the Meerut expressway to reach Dehradun. Additionally, the commute will become easier for residents of Western UP, particularly in Saharanpur, Bhagpat, Baraut, and Shamli.
According to sources, all the land-related issues have been resolved, and the NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) will complete the remaining work in four months. This highway will provide a shorter route from Akshardham to Dehradun and reduce the journey between India’s capital and Haridwar by 2 hours.
The first leg of the expressway, from Akshardham to the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE), is likely to be operational by November 2024. This section will cross several Delhi neighbourhoods and some parts of Uttar Pradesh, promising ease from traffic congestion.
This project includes a 12-kilometre elevated wildlife corridor and an animal underpass to reduce human-wildlife conflicts in the Rajaji National Park and Shiwalik Reserve Forest areas. This expressway will have seven entry points, including Akshardham, Geeta Colony, and Sonia Vihar. The exit points will be available at Khajuri Khas Chowk, Vijay Vihar, and Sonia Vihar in Delhi. It will include a 19-kilometre elevated roadway to reduce traffic.
The link connecting Haridwar to the expressway will likely be completed in 2025. During a recent meeting, PM Narendra Modi instructed the ministry to ensure the project gets completed on time.