The Delhi–Dehradun expressway, a major infrastructure undertaking aimed at significantly reducing travel time between the two cities, is slated for completion by October 2025. This update was provided by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, 23 July.

Gadkari confirmed that the access-controlled expressway, stretching from Dehradun to Delhi, involves a total capital outlay of Rs 118.7 billion.

Spanning 210 kilometres, the six-lane corridor will reduce travel time from the current 6.5 hours to just 2.5 hours. Originating from Akshardham in Delhi, it will pass through Baghpat, Baraut, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, and Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh before reaching Dehradun.

A notable feature of the project is a 12-kilometre elevated wildlife corridor near Rajaji National Park—India’s longest—designed to allow safe wildlife passage while ensuring uninterrupted vehicular flow. The expressway also includes a spur connecting Haridwar and links directly to the Char Dham highway network, improving connectivity to Uttarakhand’s key pilgrimage and tourist destinations.

Additionally, the expressway will include a 340-metre, three-lane tunnel at Datkali in Dehradun, built at a cost of Rs 20 billion. The route features 113 underpasses for smooth vehicle movement, 62 bus shelters, and dedicated animal crossings, including two specifically designed for elephants.

Once operational, the Delhi–Dehradun expressway is expected to become a key transportation corridor for northern India, enhancing inter-state connectivity, promoting tourism, and facilitating faster movement of goods and passengers across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.