Delhi-Dehradun Expressway: There’s significant news for those awaiting the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway. The central government has provided a new update on this long-delayed project. Once operational, the expressway will not only ease traffic congestion in Delhi-NCR but also make travel to Uttarakhand much faster and easier. This project, being constructed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), is now reportedly in its final stages.
Where will the expressway go?
The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway will begin at the Akshardham Temple in Delhi. It will travel through Baghpat, Baraut, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, and Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, reaching Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand. This route will provide a direct, controlled-access highway between Delhi and Uttarakhand, which is expected to reduce traffic congestion in several cities along the way.
What’s the government’s latest update?
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari clarified the status of the project in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. He stated that work on this 210-kilometer-long, six-lane, access-controlled greenfield expressway is largely complete. According to the revised deadline, it will be completed by January 2026. However, work on the 70-meter service road from Akshardham to the Eastern Peripheral Expressway junction is still pending due to a legal dispute.
The Ministry of Road Transport had previously set a target of completing the expressway by October 2025. The same deadline was announced in Parliament in July. However, the project was subsequently delayed due to technical and legal hurdles. A recent statement in December makes it clear that the government has now adopted January 2026 as the new deadline.
Speed Limits and Connectivity Benefits
The maximum speed limit for vehicles on the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway will be 100 kilometers per hour. Once operational, the journey from Delhi to Dehradun will take only 2.5 hours, instead of the current 6 to 6.5 hours. This expressway will also provide a separate road to Haridwar and connect to the Chardham Highway, making access to Uttarakhand’s hill stations and religious sites easier. The expressway’s opening will not only save travelers time but also reduce traffic congestion on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway and surrounding roads. The government claims that this project will boost regional development, tourism, and trade. All eyes are now on January 2026, when this much-anticipated expressway could open to the public.