Delhi to Dehradun in Just 2.5 Hours: PM Modi to Inaugurate Expressway Today
New Delhi/Dehradun: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Uttarakhand today (Tuesday) to inaugurate the much-awaited Delhi–Dehradun Expressway, a mega infrastructure project built at an estimated cost of ₹12,000 crore. The Prime Minister will also address a public gathering in Dehradun and offer prayers at the revered Dat Kali Temple, located near the Uttar Pradesh–Uttarakhand border.
Following the temple visit, PM Modi will lead a 12-kilometre roadshow from the temple to Jaswant Ground in Garhi Cantt, Dehradun.
The 213-kilometre-long, six-lane expressway is expected to significantly cut travel time between Delhi and Dehradun to just about 2.5 hours, providing a major boost to connectivity. The expressway features 10 interchanges, three railway overbridges (ROBs), four major bridges, and 12 wayside amenities for commuters. It is also equipped with an advanced traffic management system (ATMS) to ensure safer and smoother travel.
A key highlight of the project is the 12-kilometre-long elevated wildlife corridor, the longest in Asia, designed to facilitate safe and uninterrupted movement of wildlife. The corridor includes eight animal crossings, two elephant underpasses, and a 370-metre-long tunnel near the Dat Kali Temple.
The project was originally announced in February 2021 by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami described the expressway as a historic and transformative project for the state, stating that it will boost tourism, employment, and trade. This marks PM Modi’s 18th visit to Uttarakhand during Dhami’s tenure and his 28th visit to the state since becoming Prime Minister.
