Delhi Dehradun Expressway – Completion Date, Travel Time and More

Out of the many infrastructure projects announced by the government, the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway is grabbing a lot of attention. Stretching across 210 km, it will decrease the commute between Dehradun and Delhi and help improve the real estate growth in varied micro-markets. 

Currently, the Dehradun Delhi Expressway is under construction. It will connect Delhi’s Akshardham to Uttrakhand’s Dehradun via different cities such as Saharanpur, Bhagpat, Shamli, and Ghaziabad. After becoming functional, this expressway will allow people to travel to and fro from Delhi and Dehradun. It will reduce the travel time from six hours to two hours. 

Delhi Dehradun Expressway Overview

On Feb 26th, 2021, Nitin Gadkari, the Minister of Road Transport and Highways, India, laid the cornerstone of the project. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is overseeing the project and is responsible for awarding the construction contracts. 

The approximate cost of the project is more than ₹12,000 crores and is expected to be completed by the end of 2023. It will serve 20,00-3000 PSUs (Passenger Car Units) on a daily basis with the minimum driving speed being 100 km per hour. 

Distance Between Delhi and Dehradun

Before we get into more details about the expressway, let us take a look at the total distance between both destinations. 

Traveling Delhi to Dehradun via Bus

Not everyone traveling by road prefers a car or cab, some choose the bus. This, in fact, is a better option because it is less tiring and expensive. You can book a bus ticket in advance through online modes such as Red Bys or Paytm or take a bus on the spot. 

Uttarakhand Transport Corporation, UP State Road Transport Corporation, and various private bus services are available for traveling from Delhi to Dehradun. You can hop into them from Kashmere Gate ISBT or Anand Vihar Bus Terminal. The best part is that you get to choose the type of bus from AC, Non-AC, Sleeper, and Volvo. The price of the ticket depends on the type you select and the number of people you are traveling with. It ranges from Rs 180 to Rs 600, so you don’t have to worry about going out of budget. 

Traveling Delhi to Dehradun via Train

The train is also one of the most preferred modes of travel. The Delhi to Uttarakhand distance is approximately 335 km. It takes a total of 5 hours and 15 minutes to reach the final destination, given the train is on time.  Traveling by train comes with its own disadvantages such as delays in train arrivals due to several factors. 

The Different Phases of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway

The Delhi-Dehradun Expressways is divided into 4 different phases. Let’s discuss each phase:

Phase 1: Delhi to Uttar Pradesh (Akshardham to Baghpat)

The expressway will start near Pandav Nagar’s Akshardham Temple (Delhi) and finish at the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE) in Baghpat, UP.  At least 32 km long in total, 18 km of this section will be elevated. The elevated portion will pass through Delhi’s Shastri Park (Delhi) and Ghaziabad’s Mandola. It will have 12 lanes out of which 6 lanes will be dedicated to the primary carriageway and the remaining for increasing intra-connectivity.

The Impact of 1st Phase on Real Estate

According to the owner of JMD Real Estate, Karan Manchanda, the expressway will resolve the problem of North-East Delhi road congestion. It will also help increase residential property prices nearby such as Mayur Vihar, Akshardham, etc. 

The project will also boost connectivity between Delhi and Tronica City (now known as the Trans Delhi Signature City). It is a fast-growing residential area in Ghaziabad. With the completion of the expressway, the real estate market of this area will witness significant growth too. The project is also expected to benefit the Mandola Vihar area in Ghaziabad.  

Phase 1: Package and Contractors 

Phase 2: Baghpat (Uttar Pradesh) to Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh)

This phase will start from the EPE interchange in Baghpat (UP) and finish at Sarahanpur (UP) Bypass. Phase 2 will have 6 lanes and 7 interchanges to ensure hassle-free connectivity for surrounding areas. The government has also planned to build at least 60 underpasses to support seamless traffic movement. NHAI is also planning to develop other convenience infrastructure such as rest-stops and hotels at every 25 km for the commuters. 

The Impact of 2nd Phase on Real Estate

Lakshman Puri, Navin Nagar, Sharda Nagar, Vasant Vihar, and Ramnagar, all of them located near the Saharhanpur Bypass, will witness increased residential traction. More people will think about buying houses and getting settled in these areas thanks to the Delhi-Dehradun expressway. 

Phase 3: Saharanpur (UP) to Ganeshpur (Uttarakhand)

It starts from the Saharanpur Bypass (UP) and connects to Ganeshpur (near Uttrakhand’s Sunderpur through Bihargarh. This phase will be 40 km long and have 6 lanes. It is said to have a Brownfield development including the development of the current highway, service lanes, and underpasses. 

The Impact of 3rd Phase on Real Estate

Ganeshpur and Saharanpur are two places that aren’t really developed currently. With the development of the Delhi-Dehradun expressway, things will turn positive. Both the areas will be interlinked and witness great commercial as well as residential development.  The real estate market will shoot up as more people will discover these areas via the expressway. 

Phase 4: Ganeshpur (Uttarakhand) to Dehradun (Uttarakhand)

The last phase of the Dehradun-Delhi Expressway will link Ganeshpur and Dehradun through the Daat Kali Devi Tunnel. The highway will be built amidst a vast forest area including the Rajaji Tiger Reserve and Shivalik Hills. 

It will have 6 lanes and will be as long as 20 km. The first 6 kilometres will include the development of the present road infrastructure. The remaining 14kms will be developed from scratch and may as well have an elevated corridor. Phase 4 will end up bringing the phase that travelers look forward to. It will look and feel different from all the previous phases. 

The Impact of 4th Phase on Real Estate

The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway will be a turning point for the real estate market in Dehradun. It will not only decrease the commute time to 2 hours but also boost weekend travel to Dehradun. More people will be interested in buying second homes in the city. It will also lead to a rise in the hospitality and retail industries. 

How Dehradun Expressway Will Boost Tourism?

Delhi Dehradun Expressway is one of the most anticipated expressways. That’s because Dehradun is a favorite holiday destination for many people living in the Northern region of India. With Dehradun comes Masorrie, the most loved hill station of many. 

So, with the completion of the expressway, people will get more reasons to visit their favorite holiday destinations. Earlier the long time and distance between Delhi to Dehradun was making people hesitant to visit Dehradun. But it won’t anymore because thanks to the expressway, the time has been reduced by 4 hours. Hence, increasing the rate of tourism. 

The tourism sector will experience a major boost in terms of investment. The government is making sure that rebates and sops are offered to investors. They are also giving cash subsidies and incentives to new investors.  

For Senior Citizen Tourists

Their focus is also on improving facilities for poor tourists and the elderly. Dehradun has some famous Hindu temples, making it a religious place to visit. Since senior citizens tend to visit such places a lot, the plan is to improve facilities for their comfort. This is because with more elderly people visiting Dehradun due to lesser commute time, there will be a need for better facilities. 

For Tourists Who Wish to Explore Smaller Cities

Delhi to Dehradun distance by road is long but it also allows you to explore many small cities. The completion of the expressway will enable more travelers to visit these areas too with great ease.

Earlier it used to take people six hours to travel from Delhi to Dehradun and now it will take only 2 to 2.5 hours.  Travelers and vloggers can utilize this time in making new experiences and visiting new places. Uttarakhand is beautiful, the more you explore the harder you fall in love with the place. The government plans to do just that — make people fall in love with Uttrakhand.

Other Development Plans by the Government

NHAI has a list of big plans related to the Delhi-Dehradun expressway. They will develop a spur (highway branch) of at least 50-60km from the Dehradun-Delhi expressway to Roorkee and Haridwar. 

This means those who wish to travel to Haridwar and not Dehradun can also enjoy seamless connectivity. We all know Haridwar is one of the most popular religious places. It is always loaded with people, at all times of the year. Right now, people use NH58 to travel from Delhi to Haridwar. This highway covers major cities like Ghaziabad, Roorkee, Meerut, and Muzaffarnagar and observes a lot of traffic. With the development of the highway spur, things will change. The traffic will be in control and more people despite a larger number of people traveling to and fro from Delhi-Dehradun. 

Other than that, the spur will help with greater warehouse development in Roorkee. It will improve employment opportunities and the residential real estate market. The spur is expected to cost around  ₹1,240 crores and start from the Baghpat- Saharanpur part of the expressway. It will cross through the northern region of Roorkee and combine with NH334 near a village called Badheri. 

Another spur has been planned by NHAI which will be around 120 km between UP’s Shamli and Haryana’s Ambala. It comes under the Bharatmala Pariyojna of the government. It will have 6 Greenfield lanes. Given the distance, the cost of this spur is estimated to be around  ₹3700 crores. It will impact the real estate market of both Amlaba and Shamli significantly. The cities, as well as the areas, will benefit from the construction of this spur. Those currently living in these areas will get to enjoy better facilities. 

Expected Hurdles and Challenges

Some wildlife NGOs and environmentalists are strictly against the construction of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway. They have filed several PILS (Public Interest Litigations) as projects like these lead to the cutting of trees and affect wildlife. The matter is still pending in court. In a recent hearing, however, the court permitted the NHAI given they submit a survey report of cutting more than 25,000 trees.

Enjoy and Travel Safely

Make sure you carry or wear warm clothes on your Delhi to Dehradun road trip.  Chances are, you will experience a sudden change in temperature as soon as you reach Dehradun. We suggest you carry stoles and cardigans to add an extra layer while traveling up into the hills. This is a must especially for those who intend to travel to Massorie as well. Don’t forget to check the weather forecast before booking tickets or making plans. 

Dehradun is a place that might take you by surprise. It has developed a lot over the years and has some great amenities. You can shop, explore and indulge in adventure sports to make your holiday truly memorable. The summer season is generally the best time to travel here. It’s a place where you can easily get away from the daily hustle and bustle & calm your mind. 

News Update – Delhi-Dehradun Expressway

The reason behind the construction of the New Delhi-Dehradun Expressway is to reduce the distance and travel time by half between both cities. The time will be reduced from 6 hours to 2 hours and 30 minutes only. This will also reduce the time between Delhi and Haridwar from 5 hours to 2 hours. 

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari shared the major breakthrough of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway project. He shared that the last stretch Delhi-Dehradun Expressway project of 20 km will pass through Asia’s longest wildlife corridor. This wildlife corridor is 12km long and involves a 340 m Daat Kali tunnel. This tunnel will protect the wildlife surrounding the stretch and tunnel. By the end of March 2024, both cities will be connected to the National Capital with a series of highways.

Conclusion

The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway is a giant project that will have a positive impact on the real estate market. With the expressway comes the building of spurs which again will result in greater growth. Here’s hoping the project gets completed in the expected timeline so people can benefit from it. Stay tuned for more information regarding the same. We will update this blog if we get any more updates regarding this project. And if you’re interested in learning more about such expressways, we suggest browsing our website.