December 12, 2023 – The construction of a 3.60 km stretch of the Dehradun-Delhi Expressway, extending towards Uttarakhand, is expected to be completed by March 2024. Furthermore, the entire project is slated to finish by September 2024. With the addition of the new road, the existing one will be closed entirely to traffic, transforming it into a sanctuary for wildlife, ensuring undisturbed habitat for local fauna.
In a landmark decision made during Monday’s oversight committee meeting of the Supreme Court, members unanimously approved the restoration of the old road under an eco-friendly initiative. The restored road aims to provide a noise-free environment for both human and wildlife.
As part of this initiative, activities such as tree plantation, construction of ponds, and the creation of catchment dams will be undertaken to enhance the green cover and give the area a completely natural appearance. Although the committee’s suggestion has been approved, the final seal of approval is pending.
The responsibility for the complete transformation of the old road into a forested area has been entrusted to the Forest Development Officer (DFO) Dehradun and Saharanpur. Pankaj Maurya, the project director of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), revealed that a budget of INR 36.52 crores has been allocated for the execution of this task.
Additionally, information on the installation of mobile towers in the area was discussed during the Supreme Court’s oversight committee meeting. NHAI officials confirmed that mobile towers would be installed at intervals of 500 meters throughout the region, ensuring seamless connectivity without causing any disturbance to wildlife.
The ambitious project, estimated to cost around INR 11,970 crores, is designed for a minimum speed of 100 km/h. Presently, the distance between Dehradun and Delhi is 235 km, which will reduce to 213 km upon the completion of the corridor. The Delhi-Saharanpur-Dehradun economic corridor is expected to boost the region’s economy, and travel time between Dehradun and Delhi is projected to be reduced to just two to three hours.