The National Highways Authority of India has begun land acquisition for a 13-kilometre elevated highway linking Ajabpur with Miyawala. The project is part of the Asharodi-Miyawala corridor and has been estimated to cost Rs 20 billion (Rs 20 bn) to ease traffic congestion in Dehradun. It is intended to allow vehicles travelling from Saharanpur and Haridwar to bypass congested urban stretches.

The alignment will pass above the existing road towards Ajabpur before running alongside the railway line for about four kilometres through Mohkampur up to Miyawala. The Rispana-Jogiwala section of the Haridwar highway is identified as one of the city’s principal traffic bottlenecks. Despite road widening around three years ago the stretch continues to suffer heavy congestion with queues frequently extending towards Miyawala.

NHAI project director Saurabh Singh has initiated land acquisition proceedings and submitted the detailed project report to the Centre, with construction to begin after compensation for affected landowners is completed. Land acquisition is proposed in areas including Dehrakhas, Sevla Khurd, Badripur, Brahmanwala, Majra, Majri Mafi, Mobbewala, Mohkampur Khurd, Shahnagar, Kargi Grant and Ajabpur. The alignment alongside the railway seeks to reduce the need for extensive land take in densely populated corridors.

Work on a proposed flyover at Chhidderwala on the Dehradun-Haridwar highway has been temporarily halted following objections from local residents concerning the flyover and underpass design. Highway traffic is expected to be restored within one or two days after repairs to traffic lights at the crossing. At Raiwala construction of a proposed 550-metre flyover is expected to begin after the Kumbh.

A previously proposed flyover between Rispana and Jogiwala did not progress because of limited space, prompting the elevated solution to be pursued. The elevated highway is presented as a strategic measure to ease congestion and improve through traffic flow across the city.