Good news! Delhi-Dehradun expressway nears completion, travel time to cut from 6.5 hours to 2.5 hours—Check details
Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Harsh Malhotra, on May 17, inspected the progress of the entire 210-km stretch of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway along with officials of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), who informed him that the remaining portions of the project would be finished within 2-3 months. It is expected to cut the journey time from 6.5 hours to 2.5 hours once operational.
It is also called as National Highway 709B.
It is being developed at nearly a cost of Rs.12000 crore and will begin at Akshardham in Delhi and connect Baghpat, Shamli, and Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh prior to reaching Dehradun. The project consists of a 3.4-kilometer section in Dehradun, stretching from Datkali to Asharodi, which is already running.
Other key features comprise 113 underpasses, 5 railway overbridges, 76 km of service roads, 16 entry/exit points, 29 km of elevated roads and 62 bus shelters. It has the 340-meter, three-lane tunnel at Datkali in Dehradun.
According to reports, the prolonged legal battle over a parcel of land in Mandola, Ghaziabad has led to delays, as a two-story house obstructs a crucial section. Authorities are currently awaiting final rulings from the Supreme Court and High Court, with hearings having been scheduled for April 2025. Additionally, a minor disruption occurred in March 2025 when a pillar of the expressway in Saharanpur collapsed, though the situation was quickly brought under control.
Regional Officer of the NHAI Delhi Region, Mohammed Saifi, confirmed that construction of the elevated road up to the Uttar Pradesh border has been completed. Testing has also been finalized, with the final report anticipated within the next 15 days. The expressway is expected to open by late June or early July, reports added.
Travelling from Delhi to Mussoorie is likely to be much faster and more convenient due to the construction of a new 26-kilometre elevated road that will directly connect the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway to the hill station.
The proposed elevated corridor will span the Rispana and Bindal rivers in Dehradun, guaranteeing smooth and uninterrupted vehicle movement. Land acquisition will take place across 26 localities in Dehradun, necessitating the demolition of more than 2,600 houses along the riverbanks. The total estimated cost of the project is ₹ 6,100 crore, which includes both construction expenses and compensation for the displaced residents.
According to the New Indian Express, Vice-Chairman of the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) Banshidhar Tiwari said, 'Land acquisition will be carried out in 26 localities to build the 26 km long elevated road in Dehradun. Land will be acquired by demolishing 2,614 houses built along the banks of the Rispana and Bindal rivers."
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