The Delhi Dehradun Expressway is one of the numerous infrastructure projects the government has launched and is now receiving significant attention. It will assist in promoting real estate development in several different micro markets and reduce the amount of time spent commuting between Dehradun and Delhi. The project would cover a distance of 212 km.
The Dehradun Delhi Expressway is now under construction. It will go through many places, including Bhagpat, Saharanpur, Shamli, and Ghaziabad, on its way from Akshardham in Delhi to Dehradun in Uttarakhand. The project is expected to enhance road connectivity and boost tourism and economic activities in the state.
As per media reports, work on the 32-km sections of the Delhi-Dehradun expressway has been completed and will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last week of December 2024 or the first week of January 2025. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inspected the under-construction Dehradun-Saharanpur-Delhi Expressway NH 709B. The safety audit for the expressway has also been completed. The expressway has met the safety standards, reports mentioned. In the first phase, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will open the section from Akshardham in Delhi to Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh.
Once the first two packages of the expressway are operational, it will reduce travel time between Delhi and Baghpat from 2 hours to 20 minutes, an NHAI official said, as cited in a TOI report. Earlier, this section was expected to be ready by March 2024.
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Delhi Dehradun Expressway: Latest update
First leg of Delhi-Dehradun Expressway to be operational by Nov 2024
July 22, 2024: The first section of the Delhi-Dehradun expressway, covering the stretch from Akshardham to the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE) is expected to open by November 2024. This will ease daily traffic congestion for commuters. The section will pass through Geeta Colony, Shastri Park, Sonia Vihar in Delhi and Vijay Vihar, Kasim Vihar and Mandola in Uttar Pradesh.
Around 19 km of the 32-km stretch between Delhi and EPE is elevated. Traffic heading straight will use this elevated, access-controlled section, while local traffic will use the six-lane service road. Vehicle movement on the service roads will improve because the NHAI is upgrading the entire stretch. This separation will also benefit local commuters, an official said, as cited in media reports.
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Delhi Dehradun Expressway: Overview
Initial approval for the project came from the national govt in 2020. On February 26, 2021, India’s Minister of Road Transport and Highways officially inaugurated the construction by laying the project’s first stone. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is in charge of the project and is responsible for deciding which companies will get construction contracts.
The project is anticipated to cost Rs 13,000 crore. The expressway would be able to accommodate between 20,000 and 30,000 passenger vehicles daily and will have a minimum operating speed of 100 kilometres per hour.
The project will include the development of five road overbridges, 110 vehicle underpasses, 76-km service roads in densely populated areas and a collective stretch of 29-km of elevated sections and 16 entry-exit points along the corridor. The expressway project has been developed on Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) mode.
The Delhi-Dehradun expressway will reduce the distance between the cities from 235 km to 210 km.
Delhi Dehradun Expressway: Distance and travel time between Delhi and Dehradun
| Mode | Total Distance (in km) |
| By Road | 249 km |
| By Flight | 205 km |
| Mode | Total Time |
| By Road | 5 hrs or more |
| By Flight | 50 minutes or more |
The Delhi-Dehradun expressway will reduce the travel time between these two cities to two hours.
Delhi-Dehradun Expressway: Phases
The Delhi Dehradun Expressway is broken up into four distinct phases. Let’s go over each phase one by one:
Phase 1: From Delhi to Uttar Pradesh
The expressway would begin at Akshardham Temple in Pandav Nagar (Delhi) and terminate at the Eastern Peripheral Expressway in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh. This stretch will be at least 32 kilometres long, with 18 of those kilometres being raised. The elevated section will go via Shastri Park in Delhi and Mandola in Ghaziabad.
The section will pass through Geeta Colony, Shastri Park, Sonia Vihar in Delhi and Vijay Vihar, Kasim Vihar and Mandola in Uttar Pradesh.
In Phase 1, there will be a total of 12 lanes, including six lanes designated for the principal roadway and the remaining lanes allocated to service roads to improve intra-connectivity.
Around 19 km of the 32-km stretch between Delhi and EPE is elevated. Traffic heading straight will use this elevated, access-controlled section, while local traffic will use the six-lane service road. Vehicle movement on the service roads will improve because the NHAI is upgrading the entire stretch. This separation will also benefit local commuters, an official said, as cited in media reports.
Delhi Dehradun Expressway Phase 1: Impact on real estate
Phase 1 of the Delhi Dehradun Expressway would end the traffic jams in North-East Delhi. As a result, residential real estate in the area, including in Mayur Vihar, Akshardham, etc., would see price increases.
Previously known as Tronica City, the expanding residential neighbourhood of Trans-Delhi Signature City is situated in Ghaziabad, to the northeast of Delhi. This project would greatly increase the connection between the two cities. Therefore, the local housing market will improve.
The estimated cost of the 14.75-kilometre (km) Akshardham to Loni corridor is Rs 1,300 crore and that of the 16-km Loni to Baghpat is Rs 1,900 crore. A stretch of around 20 km of the expressway between Delhi’s Shastri Park and Loni will be an elevated six-lane corridor, which is expected to ease the regular congestion. At present, commuters have to pass through the busy Shastri Park area in Delhi and congested pockets of Loni to reach Baghpat.
Phase 2: From Baghpat (UP) to Saharanpur (UP)
This phase will extend from the Baghpat (UP) EPE interchange to the Saharanpur (UP) Bypass. To provide easy access to nearby communities, the second phase will add two more lanes and four more interchanges. The administration has also planned to construct at least 60 underpasses to facilitate traffic flow further. Every 25 kilometres, NHAI intends to build some kind of convenience facility, such as a rest station or hotel, for the benefit of motorists.
Delhi Dehradun Expressway Phase 2: Impact on real estate
As a consequence of the massive infrastructural project, it is anticipated that residential development will pick up in places like Lakshman Puri, Sharda Nagar, Vasant Vihar, Ramnagar, and Navin Nagar, all of which are located close to the Saharanpur Bypass. Many individuals will seriously consider acquiring real estate and settling down in these locations.
Phase 3: From Saharanpur (UP) to Ganeshpur (Uttarakhand)
The Saharanpur Bypass in Uttar Pradesh would be the starting point for this phase and will link Ganeshpur, which is close to Sunderpur, in Uttarakhand, to Biharigarh. This segment will be about 40 kilometres long and feature six lanes. It will entail the development of brownfields, the expansion and improvement of the current highway network, and the building of auxiliary lanes and pedestrian crossings.
Delhi Dehradun Expressway Phase 3: Impact on real estate
Currently, there is little growth in Ganeshpur and Saharanpur. The situation will improve when the expressway between Delhi and Dehradun is completed. There will be extensive business and residential growth in both regions, and they will be interconnected. As a result of the expressway, more individuals will be able to access these neighbourhoods, driving the market for real estate to new heights.
Phase 4: From Ganeshpur (Uttarakhand) to Dehradun (Uttarakhand)
Ganeshpur and Dehradun will be connected by the Dehradun-Delhi Expressway’s final phase, which will go via the Daat Kali Devi Tunnel. The expressway will be constructed in the middle of a massive forest region that includes the Rajaji Tiger Reserve and the Shivalik Hills.
It might be as lengthy as 20 kilometres with 6 lanes. Workers will improve upon the preexisting road system for the first six kilometres. An elevated corridor will likely be built for the remaining 14 kilometres of unfinished infrastructure. As a result, passengers can look forward to Phase 4. It will be visually and experientially distinct from the previous phases.
Delhi Dehradun Expressway Phase 4: Impact on real estate
The construction of the Delhi Dehradun Expressway is a watershed moment for Dehradun’s property market. As a result, weekend trips to Dehradun will increase, and the average commuting time will drop to only 2 hours. People’s interest in purchasing vacation properties in the city will increase. The tourism and retail sectors would also benefit from this.
Delhi Dehradun Expressway: Current status
The last 20 kilometres, which go through the park’s environmentally vulnerable zone, are now under construction. The elevated corridor being built here will be the longest of its kind in all of Asia. Once the project is completed, the time it takes to commute from Delhi to Dehradun will drop down to 2.5.
From the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, NHAI wants to build a spur (a branch of a highway) to Roorkee and Haridwar that will be 50 to 60 kilometres long. Haridwar is a major religious pilgrimage hub and the starting point for visits to several other Uttarakhand hill stations.
In addition, as part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is planning to construct a spur that is 120 kilometres long and would connect Shamli in Uttar Pradesh to Ambala in Haryana. This is a six-lane connectivity Greenfield highway, and the overall anticipated cost of developing the project is 3,700 crores of rupees. In addition to having an effect on the real estate industry of other localities, including Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Karnal, and Jagadheri, it will have an effect on the property prices of both cities.
Delhi Dehradun expressway: Villages list
| District | Villages list |
| Baghpat |
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| Muzaffarnagar |
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| Shmali |
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| Saharanpur |
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Delhi Dehradun Expressway: Wildlife corridor
There are eight underpasses that have been built along the Delhi Dehradun Expressway so that wild animals including elephants and tigers can freely move during the day. According to a report by TNIE, two elephant corridors of 200 meters each with a height of seven meters are being built from Asharodi to Daat Kali Temple in Dehradun.
Delhi Dehradun Expressway: Construction timeline
- February 2020: The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway received approval from the central government
- January 2021: Land acquisition and tender allotment was completed for the first two stages – Akshardham to Baghpat district border
- November 2021: Budget of Rs 2,095 crore was allocated by the central government to construct an additional six-lane connecting Haridwar to the expressway
- December 2021: PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the project on December 4th, 2021
- January 2022: Tender invitations opened for the next stage of construction – Shamli–Ambala Expressway
- August 2022: The final stretch of 20-km of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway was completed.
Delhi Dehradun Expressway: Challenges
Several non-governmental organisations that deal with biodiversity and environmentalists are vehemently opposed to developing the Delhi Dehradun Expressway. They have initiated several PILs (public interest litigation) since initiatives of this kind result in the chopping down of trees and impacting wildlife. The court has not yet made a ruling on the case. However, the court recently allowed the NHAI to proceed after they presented a survey report detailing the removal of approx 25,000 trees.
How will Delhi Dehradun Expressway benefit commuters?
The economic corridor starts at DMI near Akshardham Temple in Delhi, covering the existing National Highway through EPE Inter Exchange at Shastri Park, Khajurikhas, Mandola, Khekra, and Baghpat. It will connect the Green Field Highway, covering Baghpat, Shamli, Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur districts.
The upcoming Delhi-Dehradun Greenfield Expressway will boost the commuting experience for those travelling between Delhi and Dehradun. The expressway will reduce travel time between the two cities from 6.5 hours to just 2.5 hours and the distance from 235 km to 213 km.
Since the section from Akshardham to Geeta Colony is yet to be completed, commuters may face delays due to traffic congestion before reaching the expressway’s elevated road leading to the border
Currently, those from other parts of Delhi can access the elevated road directly from the Geeta Colony bridge via the Ring Road.
Once the expressway is fully operational, it is expected to provide smooth connectivity to people of East Delhi and those going towards Dehradun, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur and Loni, easing traffic flow on the local roads.
Delhi Dehradun Expressway: Real estate impact
The upcoming Delhi-Saharanpur-Dehradun corridor is expected to significantly boost the economic activities in the region. It will help promote tourism and create employment opportunities.
The development of this infrastructure project is also expected to have a significant impact on the real estate market along the corridor. Investors looking for investment avenues can consider purchasing plots and other properties in the region.
How will Delhi Dehradun Expressway drive economic growth?
- Growth of retail sector: The improved accessibility to Dehradun is expected to attract several retailers from Delhi NCR to expand their base in Dehradun.
- Development of industries: The upcoming corridor will boost the growth of industries, including manufacturing units, distribution centres, factories and warehouses, across strategic locations.
- Impact on tourism and hospitality: Dehradun is a well-known tourist destination in Uttarakhand. Once the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, it will allow easy connectivity for tourists, which will have a positive impact on the tourism sector.
- Increased job opportunities: The development of this expressway will enable more job opportunities for people across various sectors, including hospitality.
Delhi Dehradun Expressway features
The 32-km section of the Delhi-Dehradun expressway will include underpasses, railway overbridges and bridges to accommodate local traffic. A 28.4-km service road has also been constructed. The new expressway is expected to reduce traffic on the Delhi-Meerut expressway, with around 30,000 passenger cars estimated to switch to the new route. The expressway will also have a 51-km link to Haridwar, enabling faster connectivity.
Housing.com News Viewpoint
Several areas along the Delhi-Dehradun expressway route have witnessed a significant increase in residential and commercial developments. These include parts of east Delhi, Saharanpur and key localities in Dehradun. The prices of properties are also expected to see appreciation in the coming years. The areas along the corridor provide new opportunities for potential home seekers who can expect a convenient lifestyle with access to social amenities and smooth connectivity between Delhi and Dehradun.
Once the expressway is fully operational, it is expected to provide smooth connectivity to people of East Delhi and those going towards Dehradun, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur and Loni, easing traffic flow on the local roads.
Several areas along the route have witnessed a significant increase in residential and commercial developments. The prices of properties are also expected to see appreciation in the coming years.
FAQs
Is the expressway between Delhi and Dehradun open?
It is anticipated that the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway will open to traffic in the month of December 2024.
How many phases would be used to construct the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway?
The development of the 210-kilometre-long Delhi-Dehradun Expressway would take place in four stages, with 12 lanes in the first phase and 6 lanes in the second, third, and fourth phases, respectively.
How many expressways does India have?
India is home to a total of 33 expressways around the country.
Which states and cities will the Delhi-Dehradun expressway connect?
The Delhi-Dehradun expressway will connect Delhi, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, covering cities such as Baghpat, Baraut, Shamli and Saharanpur.
What is the route of Phase II of the Delhi-Dehradun expressway?
The Phase II of the Delhi-Dehradun expressway will comprises of a 118-km section from the EPE junction connecting Saharanpur.
Which authority is constructing the Delhi Dehradun Expressway?
The National Highway of India (NHAI) is the authority responsible for developing the Delhi Dehradun expressway.
How much time will it take to cover the distance between Delhi and Dehradun via the Delhi Dehradun expressway?
The Delhi Dehradun expressway will reduce the travel time from Delhi to Dehradun from five hours to two hours.
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