Delhi Dehradun Expressway Inauguration highlights: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway

He called highways and expressways the “fate lines of the nation,” highlighting massive infrastructure investments over the last decade and stressing cleanliness in pilgrimage sites while underlining the expressway’s role in boosting connectivity and tourism.

Garhwali address, apology for delay: Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his speech in Garhwali and apologised for arriving late, saying his convoy was delayed due to a 12-km roadshow where he received public blessings.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated the 213-km-long Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, built at a cost of around ₹12,000 crore, by pressing a remote button.

With the opening of the expressway, travel time between Delhi and Dehradun will be reduced to just about 2.5 hours.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand. He will shortly inaugurate the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway.

On the stage with him are Pushkar Singh Dhami and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the project will give a new momentum to development.

He added that before 2017, Uttar Pradesh faced an identity crisis, but today the “double-engine government” is steadily driving the chariot of development forward.
 

The National Highways Authority of India has not yet released the final toll tax rates for the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway. The rates are expected to be announced after the inauguration.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently offering prayers at the Maa Daat Kali Temple in Dehradun. It is believed that devotees seek the blessings of Maa Daat Kali before performing vehicle-related rituals or beginning any auspicious work.

After the puja at Maa Daat Kali Temple, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway.

One of the key highlights of the project is a 12-km elevated stretch passing through the ecologically sensitive Rajaji National Park in the Shiwalik Hills. It is among the longest wildlife corridors in Asia.

To safeguard wildlife, the project incorporates:

• Two large elephant underpasses, each around 200 metres long
• Six additional crossings for other animals
• Sound barriers and regulated lighting to reduce disturbance
• The elevated structure, supported by widely spaced pillars, is designed to allow free movement of animals underneath.

Toll charges will be applicable once the expressway becomes fully operational. Reports suggest a one-way fare of around ₹670 and approximately Rs 1,000 for a round trip by car between Delhi and Dehradun, though these figures have not been officially confirmed.

The final toll rates will be announced by the National Highways Authority of India.
 

Akshardham (Delhi) – Starting point
Loni
Khekra (Baghpat)
Lohadda
Karaunda Mahajan
Khyawari
Saharanpur
Ganeshpur
Asharodi
Dehradun – End point
 

Currently, travel between Delhi and Dehradun takes around six hours or more, depending on traffic conditions. Once the expressway becomes fully operational, this is expected to be reduced to roughly 2.5 hours.

Estimated travel times from key cities:

From Akshardham Temple, Delhi: about 2.5 hours
From Ghaziabad: around 2 hours 15 minutes
From Noida: approximately 2 hours 45 minutes
From Faridabad: around 3.5 hours
From Gurugram: around 3.5 to 4 hours

The fastest train on this route, the Vande Bharat Express, takes about five hours to travel from Delhi to Dehradun.

Flights have an in-air duration of roughly 55 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes, but when factoring in airport transit and security procedures, the total door-to-door travel time often exceeds five hours.

The expressway, with a permitted speed of up to 100 km/h, is expected to provide a faster and more seamless road travel option.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered prayers at the Maa Daat Kali Temple near Dehradun ahead of the inauguration.

The Delhi–Dehradun Expressway begins near Akshardham Temple in Delhi and ends near Asharodi in Dehradun, close to the Rajaji National Park, with further connectivity to the Char Dham Highway.

The corridor features around 12–16 entry and exit points, including key access points at Geeta Colony, Shastri Park, Khajuri Khas, Sonia Vihar, and the Mandola-Loni border in Delhi. Major interchanges are located at Baghpat, Baraut, Shamli, and Saharanpur, along with connections to key highways such as NH-709A and the Panipat-Nagina route.

Note: Ghaziabad will have the quickest access, while travellers from Gurgaon may take longer due to additional travel time to reach the expressway entry point near Akshardham.

People have gathered in Dehradun awaiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival for the inauguration of the Delhi–Dehradun Economic Corridor.

VIDEO | Uttarakhand: People waiting for PM Modi's arrival in Dehradun.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Delhi-Dehradun economic corridor, which will cut travel time between the two cities to nearly half, and also undertake a review of the wildlife passage on the… pic.twitter.com/pw2Q4nm9ZC

The expressway has been built using a hybrid model combining greenfield and brownfield development across four phases. The first 31.6-km stretch from Akshardham to Khekra is a brownfield upgrade, while the 120-km section from Baghpat to the Saharanpur bypass is a completely new greenfield corridor.

Posters of PM Narendra Modi line the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway ahead of its inauguration.

Commuters from Ghaziabad can access the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway via Akshardham in Delhi, while those travelling from Meerut can enter near Baghpat.

The 210–213 km access-controlled corridor is expected to cut travel time to around 2.5 hours and reduce distance by nearly 70 km. Designed as a high-speed route, it passes through key areas including Baghpat, Shamli, and Saharanpur before reaching Dehradun.

The project, built in four phases, also includes tunnels and elevated stretches through Rajaji National Park to minimise impact on wildlife, while improving connectivity and easing congestion on existing highways.

Beyond cutting travel time, the Delhi–Dehradun Economic Corridor is expected to boost regional growth by improving connectivity between key tourism hubs and economic centres.

Traffic restrictions are in place in Saharanpur on April 14 due to PM Modi’s visit and the expressway inauguration. Movement on key routes, especially the Dehradun–Saharanpur–Delhi corridor, will be diverted or restricted till 4 PM.

Authorities have rerouted vehicles from Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Yamunanagar, and nearby areas via alternative routes through Roorkee, Haridwar, and Paonta Sahib to manage congestion.

One of the standout features of the expressway is its 12-km elevated stretch over Rajaji National Park, designed to minimise impact on wildlife.

Instead of running through the forest at ground level, the project includes two major elephant underpasses, each around 200 metres long, to allow safe animal movement. In addition, six more wildlife crossings have been built for other species.

Once fully operational, the 210-km expressway is expected to significantly cut travel time and reduce congestion on existing routes.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s schedule for Tuesday, April 14, includes visits to Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. He will begin by reviewing the wildlife corridor on the elevated stretch of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway in Saharanpur.

He will then offer prayers at the Maa Dat Kali Temple near Dehradun. Following this, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway at a public event in Dehradun and address the gathering.

The expressway will have five toll plazas, but toll collection has not begun yet.

Compared to other modes of transport, the expressway is expected to offer the fastest overall journey between Delhi and Dehradun. The Vande Bharat Express takes around 5 hours, while the Shatabdi Express can take over 6 hours.

Although flights have a shorter air time of about 55 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes, the total travel duration increases significantly when you factor in the commute to Indira Gandhi International Airport and the mandatory 2–3 hour early check-in. As a result, the overall travel time by air can also stretch to around 5 hours or more.