To reduce the distance between the country’s capital Delhi and Uttarakhand’s capital Dehradun, the construction of not only India’s but Asia’s most special expressway is now underway at a rapid pace.
To reduce the travel time between major cities, high-speed corridors are being constructed across the country, one result of which is the new Delhi Dehradun Expressway.
Delhi Dehradun Expressway Overview
- Length: 210 km
- Cost: ₹12,300 crores
- Lanes: 6
- Starting Point: Akshardham Temple, Delhi
- Ending Point: Dehradun
- Completion Year: 2024
Delhi Dehradun Expressway is a Full Access Controlled (Green Field) expressway project that will be 6 lane wide. the total proposed length of this expressway is 210 km.
In February 2020, the central government had given in-principle approval for this expressway and in August 2020 NHAI’s approval was received. And on 4 December 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially laid the foundation stone of this Delhi Dehradun Expressway.
This 6-lane expressway, which will be 210 km long, will have 25 km of elevated road. A total of 14 tunnels will be built on this expressway. This expressway is being designed in such a way that the speed of vehicles here will be 100 kmph.
Not only this, a 20 kilometer stretch of Delhi Uttarakhand Expressway passes through Rajaji National Park and this is the reason why this area is being converted into Asia’s longest elevated wildlife corridor.
The Delhi Dehradun Expressway passes through the Rajaji National Park and this area is very sensitive in terms of wildlife conservation and environment and that is why it is being built as the longest wildlife corridor in Asia.
The cost of this Delhi Dehradun Expressway to be built by the National Highways Authority of India is Rs 12300 crores.
A 12 km long elevated road is also being constructed from Ganeshpur in UP to Asarodi in Uttarakhand for the safety and cleanliness of the wildlife roaming in the Shivalik forest and National Rajaji Park on the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway. The cost of this elevated road is 1400 crores.
Most of this six-lane expressway will be elevated in Delhi, but along with it, a two-lane NH road will be built below it, with two additional lanes each for the service road.And it is important that bus shelters will be built along these service roads.
The total length of the expressway from Akshardham to Delhi-UP border is 14.75 km. In this, 19 shelters will be made on one side of the road and 19 on the other side as well. All these places have been marked from where passengers catch buses, autos or other rides.
Delhi Dehradun Expressway Route
It will start from Akshardham Temple located on Delhi-Dehradun National Highway No. 9. The six-lane highway from Akshardham Temple to Geeta Colony crematorium will be completely on the surface.
After 5.5 km from Akshardham, there will be entry and exit gates at Gandhinagar-Geeta Colony. One can board and deboard the expressway after 7.4 km on ISBT-Dilshad Garden Marg, 9.5 km on Khajuri Pusta Marg and 11.2 km on Signature Bridge Marg.
The peoples of Saharanpur, Baghpat, Muzaffarnagar, Haridwar, Shamli and Haryana will also benefit from the expressway. Those who take more than one and a half hour to reach Delhi in connection with work from Baghpat, they will be able to reach Akshardham in less than an hour. The distance between them will be reduced to just 18 kms. The approximate speed limit on the expressway will be 100 kmph.
Those who want to visit Rishikesh will also benefit from this. They can reach the spiritual city via Dehradun in just 3 hours. This road will also help in decongesting the traffic in Delhi-NCR region
Those who want to go from Delhi to UP or Dehradun, they will climb the highway from the very beginning. The first section of Delhi-Dehradun Highway will connect Aksharksham and Kundli-Palwal Expressway. In the 2nd section, EPE Junction will be connected to Saharanpur.
Delhi Dehradun Expressway Progress
According to the National Highway Authority, 550 pillars are to be made for the elevated road, out of which about 400 pillars have also been erected. Work is underway on the remaining pillars.
The work on the second important part of the Delhi Dehradun Expressway project is also moving towards its completion.
Excavation of a 340 meter long tunnel connecting the border of UP Uttarakhand to the important stop of Delhi Dehradun Expressway, a very ambitious project of the Central Government and National Highways Authority of India, has been completed. Vehicles will be running on road very soon. The process of finalizing the tunnel construction has been expedited.
According to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the work of digging the tunnel was started on February 10 this year. And it was completed in record time on 16th August.
The length of this tunnel being built near the Daat Kali temple is 340 meters. Half of it comes in Uttar Pradesh and half in Uttarakhand. The width of the tunnel is 14.20 m. To facilitate the movement of vehicles in the tunnel, it is being made of three lanes.
Work is being done on the eco-restoration plan to cover the entire area green on the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway. Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh will implement this plan in their respective parts, the cost of which will be borne by the National Highways Authority of India.
Apart from this, fire prevention measures, water peat, ground water recharge system etc. will also be developed in the park area.
Delhi Dehradun Expressway Deadline
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has targeted opening the first two phases to traffic by December 2023.
Although it may take up to March 2024 to open the next phases, the completion of the first two phases will complete the construction of the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE) from Akshardham to Baghpat.
In the first phase of the expressway, the expressway is being constructed from Akshardham metro station to UP border (Loni) in Delhi border and in the second phase from Loni border to Baghpat (EPE).
Now construction work is going on with full capacity in both phases. The work of preparation of pillars and laying of spans on the border between Delhi and Ghaziabad is also picking up pace. Now the project is scheduled to be completed on target.
Delhi Dehradun Expressway Benefits
The completion of the Delhi Dehradun Expressway will relieve congestion in the Loni area of East Delhi and Ghaziabad. Because after the construction of the expressway, a six-lane elevated road and a six-lane service road will be available for traffic. Of course, a 12-lane road will be available at this place.
After construction of Dehradun Delhi Expressway, it will take less than half the time it takes now. Presently Delhi to Dehradun takes six hours and Delhi to Haridwar takes 5 hours, after construction of the expressway this time will be reduced to 2 hours and 2.30 hours.
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