Exciting news awaits road travelers as the construction of the six-lane Delhi-Dehradun Greenfield Access Controlled Expressway is in full throttle. This expressway, spanning 212 kilometers, commences from the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway near Akshardham in Delhi. According to media reports, the expressway will become operational sometime in March this year.
The mega project is divided into four sections and will traverse through Shastri Park, Khajuri Khas, the EPE interchange at Khekra in Mandola, Baghpat, Shamli, Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, finally connecting Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The initiative, costing over Rs 10,000 crore, aims to significantly reduce travel time.
The expressway boasts a 12-kilometer-long wildlife elevated corridor, the largest in Asia, promoting free movement for wildlife. Additionally, a 340-meter tunnel near the Dat Kaali temple in Dehradun is designed to minimize wildlife disruption. Moreover, the Ganeshpur-Dehradun section features multiple animal passes, mitigating the risk of animal-vehicle collisions.
Driving regional economy
According to the authorities involved in the project, the corridor’s construction will not only stimulate the regional economy but also drive tourism. The comprehensive project encompasses the construction of five road overbridges, 110 vehicle underpasses, 76 kilometers of service roads in densely populated zones, along with a collective stretch of 29 kilometers of elevated sections and the establishment of 16 entry-exit points throughout the corridor
The expressway has been engineered for a minimum speed of 100 kilometers per hour, with planned amenities every 25-30 kilometers. This development is anticipated to boost regional economic growth, particularly benefiting Uttarakhand’s tourism sector. The project operates under the EPC mode, promising enhanced road user experiences and heightened connectivity.