The Public Works and Tourism minister Satpal Maharaj conducted an on-site inspection of the under construction Dehradun-Delhi expressway on Monday and hailed the project as a boon for Uttarakhand’s economy, particularly for the tourism industry. “On completion of this project, one will be able to reach Delhi in just two and a half to three hours,” he said and added that the work is going on at a brisk pace and the work for the 3.60 kilometre-long Uttarakhand stretch would be completed by March 2024.

He further said that the Delhi-Dehradun economic corridor starts from DME near Akshardham temple in Delhi, connecting the National Highway 709 through EPHE interchange at Shastri Park, Khajuri Khas, Mandola and Khekra (Baghpat). “Thereafter, the Greenfield Highway (National Highway-344G) while passing through Baghpat, Shamli, Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur districts meets the Saharanpur bypass. It then follows the existing NH- 344 and NH- 307 which passes through the tunnel at Chhutmalpur, Ganeshpur, Mohand, Dat Kali temple and ends at Asharodi in Dehradun,” the minister said.

Maharaj informed that this entire project is being executed on EPC mode and the total length of the corridor is about 113 kilometres and the project cost has been pegged at Rs 11,970 crore. “It has been designed for a minimum speed of 100 kilometres per hour. At present, the distance from Dehradun to Delhi is 235 kilometers and it will be reduced to 213 kilometers after the construction of this expressway,” he added.

He said that this corridor will have five road over bridges, 110 vehicle underpasses, 76 kilometre-long  service roads in populated areas, 29 kilometre-long elevated parts and 16 entry/ exit points.

“The 20 kilometres stretch from Ganeshpur to Dehradun (Part-4) is passing through a wildlife area. To ensure that the movement of wild animals is not affected, Asia's longest wildlife corridor with 12 kilometres length and a 340 metre- long tunnel costing Rs 1,995 crore are being constructed,” the minister added.