Dehradun: The much-awaited 6-lane greenfield Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, which starts from Akshardham in Delhi and goes up to Dehradun in Uttarakhand, is almost ready. Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Harsh Malhotra, said that only a small portion of work is left and it will be completed within the next two months. After that, the expressway will be opened for traffic.
Minister Harsh Malhotra on Saturday visited the expressway to inspect its progress. During the visit, he reviewed the construction work from Delhi to Dehradun and also held a meeting at Hari Castle in Mavikalan to go over the progress report.
93% work completed
Malhotra shared that 93% of the expressway work is already completed. The remaining 7% is delayed due to minor problems at about 20 spots. However, talks are ongoing with the concerned people to solve these issues, and the response so far has been positive.
MP Rajkumar Sangwan also raised local concerns during the meeting. He pointed out that due to the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, the road leading to the sports stadium in Khekra has been closed. He also highlighted the lack of a service road along the new expressway and requested upgrades for the Meerut-Baghpat-Sonipat highway and a bypass for Baraut on the Delhi-Saharanpur Highway (709-B).
Key route details and cost of project
The new expressway is 213 kilometers long, with 42.8 kilometers of it passing through Baghpat. Once opened, it will greatly reduce travel time from Delhi to Dehradun. People will no longer have to face long hours of traffic jams, making the journey quicker and more comfortable. The expressway will also ease travel for people heading to Haridwar and for pilgrims going on the Chardham Yatra.
This modern road will help reduce traffic on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway and seven other major highways. Vehicles will be allowed to run at a speed of 100 km/hour, making the trip not only faster but also smoother.
The expressway is being built at a cost of around Rs 12,000 crore. It passes through cities like Baghpat, Baraut, Shamli, Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur before reaching Dehradun. A special diversion has also been built for travelers heading to Haridwar and the Chardham region.
To protect the environment, the project includes Asia’s largest elevated corridor, 12 kilometers long, within Rajaji National Park. This elevated stretch ensures that wild animals can move freely without danger from vehicles.
According to NHAI officials, the remaining construction work will be finished in the next 2 to 3 months. After that, the expressway will be open to the public, bringing relief to thousands of daily commuters and travelers.
