Delhi-Dehradun expressway: Travel time to be reduced to 2.5 hours, Akshardham to EPE stretch set to open before...

The Delhi-Dehradun expressway, which will significantly enhance infrastructure and connectivity, is scheduled to open in January 2025. It is expected to cut travel time from approximately six hours to just 2.5 hours as India's first wildlife-friendly expressway, significantly improving connectivity while preserving environmental sustainability. This is a thorough analysis of the features, improvements, and benefits of the expressway.

The Delhi-Dehradun expressway, which runs between Akshardham and the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE), would be completed in three months, with some parts expected to be completed by the beginning of the new year.

Nitin Gadkari, the union minister of transport, has declared that the two road segments are prepared for inauguration.

Delhi-Dehradun Expressway
Route Overview
Total Length: 210 km
Starting Point: Akshardham in Delhi (NH 334).
Ending Point: Dehradun (NH 72).
Major Pass-Through Locations: Ghaziabad, Baghpat, Shamli, Saharanpur, and Haridwar.
Corridor Design: The expressway bypasses major urban traffic hotspots, offering a smooth and uninterrupted journey.

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is spearheading this massive project, which will cost a total of Rs 13,000 crore, as part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana initiative, which aims to upgrade India's road network.

The project's development is divided into phases. The first stage runs 31.6 km from Akshardham to Khekra (EPE Junction) and has an 18-kilometer high track. It has a budget of Rs 1,323 crore and is almost finished, with testing and final details expected to be completed by December 2024.

A 340-meter, three-lane tunnel is also being constructed near Datkali, Dehradun, at an estimated cost of Rs 1,995 crore, according to a statement issued by the government in April 2023.

Emergency services, fire brigades, ambulances, and trauma centres will be available on the highway. For safety, it will also have wildlife fencing and sturdy railings.

Phase 2: Covers 118 km from EPE to Saharanpur Bypass, with 6 lanes and numerous interchanges; Phase 3: Covers 40 km from Saharanpur Bypass to Ganeshpur; Phase 4: Completes the final 20 km stretch from Ganeshpur to Dehradun, with wildlife-friendly structures. Phase 1 begins at Akshardham Temple in Delhi and extends 32 km to the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE) with 12 lanes.