The New Delhi-Dehradun Expressway is set to open for traffic by December 2024, significantly reducing travel time between the two cities to just 2.5 hours. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has confirmed this timeline after a recent meeting between road transport ministry officials and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A key section connecting the expressway to Haridwar is expected to be operational by May 2025. The Prime Minister has urged the ministry to ensure the project is completed on schedule. According to sources, all land acquisition issues have been resolved, and NHAI is committed to finishing the remaining work within the next four months.
The 264-km expressway, which will cut the travel time from Delhi to Dehradun by more than half, is part of a government-funded project costing approximately Rs 14,285 crore. A unique feature of the expressway is a 12-km elevated wildlife corridor, designed to reduce human-wildlife conflicts in the Rajaji National Park and Shiwalik Reserve forest areas.
The first segment of the expressway, running from Akshardham in Delhi to the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE) interchange, is expected to be operational by November 2024. This section will pass through areas in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, offering relief to commuters from daily traffic congestion. The 32-km Delhi-EPE stretch includes a 19-km elevated roadway for through traffic, with a six-lane service road below for local traffic.
The expressway will feature multiple entry and exit points for vehicles traveling between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, with toll exemptions for commuters entering and exiting within Delhi.