The much-awaited Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, an infrastructure Project that will redefine travel between the national capital and the state of Uttarakhand, is on the verge of being fully functional. While some sections of this project have already started eliminating the misery caused by traffic, it is believed that the 210-kilometer marvel, which will be fully finished by mid-2025, will narrow down the travel time to 2.5 hours from 6.5 hours.
Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Harsh Malhotra, recently shed some light on the rapid progress of the highway during his comprehensive inspection on May 17, 2025. Expressing satisfaction with the way things are going and growing, Minister Malhotra urged National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials to fast-track the remaining portions with the dedicated goal of completing the remaining stretches within the next 2-3 months
The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway is expected to be in use by late June or early July, making it possible to go from Delhi to Uttar Pradesh in just 15 minutes. The significant decrease in travel time is due to the newly constructed 212-kilometer expressway, which features an 18-kilometer elevated section aimed at reducing congestion for commuters from various areas. Mohammed Saifi, the Regional Officer for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in the Delhi Region, confirmed that the elevated road leading to the Uttar Pradesh border has been fully constructed and tested. The final report on this project is expected within the next 15 days.
Beyond the environmental considerations of this project, the expressway boasts impressive infrastructure. From the starting point at Akshardham in Delhi, it will easily connect Baghpat, Shamli, and Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh before reaching Dehradun. The project also includes a crucial 3.4-kilometer section in Dehradun, stretching from Datkali to Asharodi, which is already operational. Other key features include 113 underpasses, 5 railway overbridges, 16 entry/exit points, 76 km of service roads, 29 km of elevated roads, and 62 bus shelters. A particularly impressive engineering feat is the 340-meter, three-lane tunnel at Datkali in Dehradun.
While progress has been swift, the project has faced its share of hurdles. A protracted legal dispute over a parcel of land in Mandola, Ghaziabad, has caused some delays, with a two-storied house standing in the way of a critical section. Authorities are awaiting a definitive verdict from the Supreme Court and High Court, whose hearings were scheduled in April 2025. Additionally, a minor setback occurred in March 2025 when a pillar of the expressway in Saharanpur collapsed, though normalcy was swiftly restored.
As the final touches are being applied, the countdown to a more efficient and enjoyable journey between these two vital regions has truly begun.
