New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, April 14, inaugurated the much-awaited Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, officially named the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor.
The 213-kilometre-long, six-lane access-controlled expressway has been developed at a cost of over ₹12,000 crore. It is set to significantly reduce travel time between Delhi and Dehradun from nearly six hours to just 2.5 hours.
Before inaugurating the expressway, the Prime Minister also held a roadshow in Dehradun, drawing large public attention.
The corridor passes through Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, improving connectivity across northern India. The project includes 10 interchanges, three railway overbridges (ROBs), four major bridges, and 12 roadside amenities to ensure a seamless and comfortable travel experience.
Equipped with an Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS), the expressway is designed to enhance road safety and provide real-time traffic monitoring.
Special emphasis has also been placed on environmental conservation. Considering the region’s rich biodiversity, the corridor includes multiple wildlife-friendly features to reduce human-animal conflict. Notably, it features a 12-kilometre elevated wildlife corridor—one of the longest in Asia—along with eight animal crossings, two 200-metre-long elephant underpasses, and a 370-metre tunnel near Maa Daat Kali Temple.
Apart from reducing travel time, the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor is expected to boost regional economic growth. It will improve access to major tourist destinations and commercial hubs, making travel faster and more efficient.
