Delhi-Dehradun Expressway Phase 1 ready for traffic; 3-4 hours reduction in travel time

NEW DELHI: The first phase of the expressway connecting Delhi and Uttarakhand capital Dehradun has been completed. It is likely to be opened for traffic this month. The construction is in four phases.

The first phase of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, a 32-km stretch from Akshardham to Baghpat, is complete and is expected to reduce travel time from over an hour to 25 minutes. It now takes more than an hour to travel this distance. It takes 25-30 minutes on the expressway. A 3.5 km stretch of the Delhi-Dehradun expressway, from Daat Kali to Asharodi, is now open and operational with all six lanes accessible, improving connectivity between the two regions. The expressway will connect the states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand as well as the cities of Baghpat, Baraut, Shamli and Saharanpur.

Unofficial information suggests that a toll system will be introduced based on the distance travelled.

Haridwar in one and a half hours:

Before reaching Dehradun, a six-lane greenfield road is being constructed from the express highway to Haridwar. It is 51 km long. The cost is Rs 2,095 crore. You can reach Haridwar from Delhi in one and a half hours. You can also go to Rishikesh through it.

212 km: Delhi-Dehradun Expressway

5-6 hours: Current travel time

2 hours: Travel time when Express highway work is completed

13,000 crores: Construction cost

12 km: Wildlife corridor

Uttarakhand has India's longest elevated wildlife corridor on the Ganeshpur-Dehradun route, passing through Rajaji National Park. It is 12 km long.

This includes six underpasses for small animals and two underpasses for elephants. There is a 340-meter-long three-lane tunnel at Daatkali, built at a cost of Rs 1,995 crores.