New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the much-awaited Delhi–Dehradun Expressway on Tuesday, a major infrastructure project expected to significantly reduce travel time and strengthen connectivity between the national Capital and Uttarakhand’s capital.
Before the inauguration, the Prime Minister will offer prayers at the historic Dat Kali Temple. “PM has an event here on the 14th. He will have a darshan at Ma Dat Kali. You can see that preparations are underway… PM will have the darshan for 5-10 minutes,” said Shubham Goswami, son of Mahant Raman Prasad Goswami.
Built at an estimated cost of around Rs 12,000 crore, the 210-km-long expressway starts near Akshardham Temple and stretches to Dehradun, passing through key towns in Uttar Pradesh such as Baghpat, Baraut, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, and Saharanpur. The corridor will also connect to Haridwar through a dedicated link road and integrate with the broader Char Dham highway network.
A major highlight of the project is the sharp reduction in travel time. At present, the journey between Delhi and Dehradun typically takes around six hours by road. With the newexpressway, this will come down to nearly 2.5 hours, offering a faster and more seamless travel experience.
The improved road connectivity is also expected to rival other modes of transport. While the Vande Bharat Express takes about five hours and the Shatabdi Express over six hours, even air travel, despite a flight duration of under 70 minutes, often takes close to five hours overall when airport transfers and check-in time are included. The expressway, therefore, is likely to emerge as the most time-efficient option for commuters.
Designed for high-speed and uninterrupted movement, the expressway features seven interchanges, two rail overbridges, and 10 major bridges. For passenger convenience, 14 wayside amenities, including rest areas, food courts, fuel stations, and washrooms, are being developed along the route.
Environmentally sensitive design has also been incorporated, especially along the stretch passing through Rajaji National Park. A 12-km elevated corridor has been constructed to minimise disruption to wildlife. The project includes two large elephant underpasses, each around 200 metres long, along with six additional animal crossings.
Once fully operational, the expressway is expected to ease congestion on existing routes, enhance regional connectivity, and provide a major boost to travel, tourism, and economic activity between Delhi and Uttarakhand.
(IANS)
