Preparations are in full swing for the inauguration of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway on Tuesday, April 14. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to inaugurate the much-awaited route connecting the national capital with Dehradun soon. He will also deliver a keynote address at a public rally in Uttarakhand. The opening of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway will also connect key districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Baghpat, Baraut, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli and Saharanpur, with Delhi and Dehradun.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Governor Anandiben Patel, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak are among the top officials attending the event.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi inspected the wildlife corridor on the elevated section of the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor. He then offered prayers at the Maa Daat Kali temple near Dehradun. Ahead of the inauguration, PM Modi is holding a roadshow in Dehradun.
Key features of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway
A major boost to road connectivity in North India, this 213 km Greenfield Corridor will reduce travel time between the two cities by around 3.5 to 4 hours. This means one could reach Dehradun from Delhi and vice versa in just 2-2.5 hours as compared to earlier 6 hours.
This corridor includes six lanes, 14 track facilities, several bridges, grade crossings and railway overpasses. With a speed limit of 100 km/h and six-lane access control, the cost of the project is estimated ₹12,000–13,000 million crowns. It starts near Akshardham in Delhi and goes all the way to Dehradun. Its structure features an eco-friendly design and includes a 12 km long elevated corridor, one of the longest in Asia.
Another attractive feature of this economic corridor are the underpasses for elephants, which will allow the animals to safely cross the busy route and minimize the ecological impact.
“The corridor also includes eight animal passages, two elephant underpasses, each 200 meters long, and a 370-meter tunnel near the Daat Kali temple,” said a PIB press release.
Key features expected to reduce traffic congestion and improve the overall driving experience include:
The corridor starts in the Akshardham area of Delhi and is expected to connect to the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE) near Khekra and then continue through parts of Uttar Pradesh towards Saharanpur and finally end at Dehradun.
What about tolls on the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway?
Once the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway is fully operational, it is expected to be toll-free. According to media reports, the approximate charges for a one-way passenger car journey between Delhi and Dehradun can be as high as ₹670. However, the rates are yet to be confirmed and will be notified by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
