Commuters traveling between the National Capital Region (NCR) and Uttarakhand have received welcome news as the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway has officially commenced a one-month trial run on a key initial section. This 32-kilometre stretch connects Delhi’s Akshardham area with Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh.
The opening of this segment is expected to immediately ease congestion on pre-existing routes, providing a much-needed high-speed alternative for travelers heading toward Noida and Ghaziabad.
Project Details and Revised Timeline
The full Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, an approximately 210-kilometre-long access-controlled corridor, was originally targeted for completion in December 2024 after its foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2024. However, the ₹11,868.6 crore project faced several delays.
- New Target Date: The entire corridor is now expected to be completed and opened to the public by February 2026.
- Reduced Travel Time: Once fully operational, the expressway will dramatically reduce the travel time between Delhi and Dehradun from approximately six hours to just two and a half hours.
Trial Run on Delhi-Baghpat Section
The first phase of the expressway, connecting Delhi’s Akshardham to the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE) near Khekra in Baghpat, UP, has been opened for the general public on a trial basis, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) announced on Monday.
- Route: The 32-km initial stretch runs from Akshardham Temple, passing through Geeta Colony, Shastri Park, and Mandola Vihar in Ghaziabad, before reaching Khekra.
- Toll-Free Period: NHAI officials confirmed that commuters will not be charged tolls during this one-month trial period. The decision to open this ready section, which had been completed for at least six months, came after an earlier preference by the Prime Minister’s Office to inaugurate the entire corridor simultaneously.
Key Features of the Expressway
The multi-phased project is designed for both high-speed connectivity and environmental protection:
- Phases: The corridor is being built in four phases, with the Delhi-Baghpat (Phase 1) section opened for trial. Phase 2 (Baghpat to Saharanpur) is reportedly nearing completion.
- Wildlife Corridor: A key feature is the 12-km elevated wildlife corridor through Rajaji National Park—the longest such structure in Asia—designed with six animal underpasses to ensure safe wildlife movement.
- Amenities: Along the route, rest facilities will include food kiosks, ATMs, air-filling stations, Pollution Under Control (PUC) centres, and mandated parking capacity (10% reserved for electric vehicles).
- New Parking Facilities: To support increased local mobility, the NHAI is developing three new modern parking and rest facilities along the Delhi stretch near the East Delhi DM office, Gandhi Nagar market, and Geeta Colony.