Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway, calling it a world-class infrastructure project that will significantly improve connectivity, boost tourism, and support regional economic growth.
Before the inauguration, the Prime Minister offered prayers at the historic Dat Kali Temple. According to officials, he spent a brief darshan of around 5–10 minutes at the temple amid preparations for the visit.
The 210-km-long expressway, built at an estimated cost of around ₹12,000 crore, starts near Akshardham Temple in Delhi and extends to Dehradun. It passes through key towns in Uttar Pradesh, including Baghpat, Baraut, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, and Saharanpur, and also connects to Haridwar via a dedicated link road, integrating with the broader Char Dham highway network.
Reduced travel time and improved connectivity
One of the biggest highlights of the project is the drastic reduction in travel time. The journey between Delhi and Dehradun, which currently takes around six hours, will now take approximately 2.5 hours once fully operational. This makes the expressway one of the fastest travel options compared to rail and air routes, when total travel time is considered.
The corridor is designed for high-speed, uninterrupted movement and includes seven interchanges, two rail overbridges, 10 major bridges, and 14 wayside amenities such as rest areas, food courts, fuel stations, and washrooms.
Environment and wildlife protection features
Special attention has been given to environmental concerns, particularly along the stretch passing through Rajaji National Park. A 12-km elevated corridor has been constructed to reduce ecological disruption. The project also includes two elephant underpasses of around 200 metres each and six additional animal crossings to ensure safe wildlife movement.
Boost to tourism and economic activity
The expressway is expected to ease congestion on existing routes and significantly improve connectivity between Delhi and Uttarakhand. It is also likely to boost tourism, religious travel, and business activity across the region.
Prime Minister Modi said the project would strengthen Uttarakhand's growth trajectory in its 26th year of formation and reaffirmed the government's focus on large-scale infrastructure development. He highlighted that improved highways, railways, waterways, and airways are key drivers of national prosperity.
He also noted that the corridor would support tourism hubs like Rishikesh and Haridwar and create new opportunities for hotels, homestays, and related businesses, while positioning Uttarakhand as an emerging destination for tourism and destination weddings.
