Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the much awaited Delhi–Dehradun Expressway today, a major project expected to transform travel between Delhi and Dehradun. The new corridor aims to improve connectivity, reduce travel time and boost economic activity in the region. PM reviews Asia’s longest wildlife corridor, joins children in aarti at Dat Kali Temple Prime Minister on Tuesday reviewed the 12-km-long wildlife corridor in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, built along the elevated stretch of the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway. The corridor is considered one of the longest of its kind in Asia and has been developed by Uttarakhand. Later, he visited the Dat Kali Temple near Dehradun, where he offered darshan and performed pooja. During the visit, children sang an aarti and the Prime Minister was seen clapping and joining them, reported ANI. What makes this highway so important? The expressway has been built at an estimated cost of Rs 12,000 crore and stretches over 210 kilometres. It begins near Akshardham Temple and runs up to Dehradun. 1. Connects key regions: On its way, it passes through important towns in Uttar Pradesh, including Baghpat, Baraut, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, and Saharanpur. It also connects to Haridwar through a dedicated link road and becomes part of the larger Char Dham highway network. 2. Travel time cut to nearly half: One of the biggest advantages of the expressway is the reduction in travel time. Currently, it takes about six hours to travel between Delhi and Dehradun by road. With the new expressway, this will come down to around 2.5 hours. This improvement makes it competitive with other travel options. Trains like the Vande Bharat Express take about five hours, while the Shatabdi Express takes over six hours. Even air travel, though shorter in flight duration, often takes around five hours in total due to airport procedures. The expressway is expected to become the fastest and most convenient option for commuters. 3. Built for speed and comfort: The corridor is designed for smooth and high-speed travel. It includes multiple interchanges, railway overbridges, and major bridges to ensure uninterrupted movement. For travellers, several wayside amenities are being developed along the route. These will include rest areas, food courts, fuel stations, and washrooms. 4. Advanced technology: The project is also equipped with an Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS), which will help improve safety and manage traffic efficiently. 5. Boost for travel, tourism and economy: Once fully operational, the expressway is expected to ease congestion on existing roads and improve regional connectivity. It will also support tourism and business activity between Delhi and Uttarakhand. Strong focus on wildlife protection Special attention has been given to environmental protection, especially in areas near Rajaji National Park. A 12-kilometre elevated corridor has been built to reduce disturbance to wildlife. The project includes several features to prevent human-animal conflict and allow safe animal movement. These include elephant underpasses, animal crossings and dedicated wildlife passes. There is also a 370-metre-long tunnel near the Dat Kali Temple. Officials said the corridor has been designed “keeping in view the ecological sensitivity, rich biodiversity and wildlife in the region,” with features that ensure “free movement of wild animals,” reported IANS. The project reflects a broader vision of developing modern infrastructure that combines speed, safety and environmental responsibility while improving the overall travel experience for people. (With IANS and ANI Inputs)
14 April,2026 01:37 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAhead of PM Modi’s visit to Saharanpur, the UP Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday termed his impending visit to Saharanpur and the inauguration of the Delhi-Dehradun economic corridor. While taking it to social media platform X, UP CM Yogi Adityanath said, "Today the land of Saharanpur is going to witness a historic moment of development, trust and connectivity. Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji will today dedicate to the nation the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor connecting Delhi-Uttar Pradesh-Uttarakhand, built at a cost of Rs 12,000 crore." आज सहारनपुर की धरती विकास, विश्वास और कनेक्टिविटी के ऐतिहासिक क्षण की साक्षी बनने जा रही है।आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी आज ₹12,000 करोड़ की लागत से निर्मित दिल्ली-उत्तर प्रदेश-उत्तराखंड को जोड़ने वाले दिल्ली-देहरादून इकोनॉमिक कॉरिडोर राष्ट्र को समर्पित करेंगे। यह… — Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) April 14, 2026 UP Chief Minister hails Delhi-Dehradun corridor Yogi Adityanth further termed the highway not just a road project, but a bridge to the new pace, new connectivity and new possibilities of 'New India'. He further added, "This new route between Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand will reduce travel time, accelerate industrial activities and establish new dimensions of tourism." PM Modi to inaugurate Delhi-Dehradun corridor On Tuesday, PM Modi will inaugurate the Delhi-Dehradun economic corridor. The corridor will cut the travel time between the two cities to less than half. He will also undertake a review of the wildlife passage on the elevated section of the high-speed expressway in Saharanpur. An official statement, while briefing about the 213-kilometre, six-lane, access-controlled corridor, has been built at a cost of over Rs 12,000 crore. The corridor traverses through the states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand and will reduce travel time between Delhi and Dehradun from over six hours at present to around two and a half hours, according to an official statement. Implementation of the highway project between Delhi and Dehradun also includes the construction of 10 interchanges, three Railway Over Bridges (ROBs), four major bridges and 12 wayside amenities to enable seamless high-speed connectivity. The official statement from the PMO also noted that the corridor has been equipped with an Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) to provide a safer and more efficient travel experience for commuters. Modi will first pray at Maa Daat Kali Temple near Dehradun, a gesture which many consider significant, coming as it does just ahead of the West Bengal Assembly polls, as per PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
14 April,2026 11:28 AM IST | Saharanpur | mid-day online correspondentIn a major case related to a terror conspiracy, an NIA/ATS Special Court in Lucknow has sentenced three terrorists linked to Al-Qaeda to life imprisonment, news agency reported. The convicts – Minhaj, Masruddin, and Tauheed – were associated with the Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind module. According to the case details, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested Minhaj from the Dubagga area. Based on his disclosure on July 11, 2021, Masruddin and Tauheed were also subsequently apprehended on the same day. Officers probing the case highlighted that a cooker bomb was recovered from Minhaj's residence, while explosive materials and a pistol were seized from the other accused, ANI reported. Trio was planning serial blasts in Uttar Pradesh Investigating agencies said that the trio was planning serial blasts in Uttar Pradesh around August 15, 2021. They were also allegedly preparing for a major attack using a human bomb. During interrogation, it emerged that the accused were acting on the instructions of Umar Halmandi, a handler of Al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent, who was actively involved in recruitment and strengthening the terror network in India, ANI reported. The agencies further stated that the conspiracy was aimed at spreading unrest in the state and across the country following the Ram Mandir verdict. The arrests took place based on information shared by Halmandi himself, who had identified and recruited some persons in Lucknow for raising the Al-Qaeda module in the region. Accused informed authorities about Al Qaeda's affiliate, 'Ansaar Gajwatul Hind' He had further informed the police about the Al Qaeda affiliate 'Ansaar Gajwatul Hind' (AGH)', an outfit raised to carry out a series of terrorist acts before August 15, 2021, in various cities of UP, especially Lucknow. Special Public Prosecutor Mithilesh Kumar Singh detailed the investigation and prosecution of the case. Speaking to the media, Singh said that the Uttar Pradesh ATS had received inputs about Halmandi, an Al-Qaeda associate operating along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, who had been tasked with establishing links in India. He further stated, "The ATS had information that Umar Halmandi, who is associated with Al-Qaeda, was working on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and was given the responsibility of linking Al-Qaeda in India." In this context, he contacted Tauheed, and Tauheed contacted Minhaj in Lucknow. Minhaj then involved Masruddin, and through Masruddin, three others – Muied, Mustaqueem, and Shakeel – were added." Singh said that the accused primarily communicated online due to restrictions during the Covid-19 period, which initially made evidence collection challenging. "It was 2021, the time of COVID. So at that time, physical contact was difficult. All contacts were being made online. And online itself, Tauheed contacted Minhaj. After that, it was difficult to gather evidence at that time. And when these people were caught based on information, the mobiles recovered from them had a lot of chatting... and through that, the whole case came out," he added. The prosecution's side presented 42 witnesses and 149 documents. Apart from that, 109 material exhibits were proved. From the defence's side, 5 witnesses were presented, the SPP said. The court's verdict is being seen as a major success for the security agencies. Earlier in November 2025, several Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists were arrested and jailed. (With inputs from ANI)
14 April,2026 11:20 AM IST | Lucknow | mid-day online correspondentFour (two former) senior students of the same college-were arrested for allegedly abducting a 19-year-old from his hostel in the city and later demanding a ransom of Rs 50,000 for his release, police said on Monday. The victim, a first-year BBM student, was abducted by the accused on April 11 at around 7.50 pm near his hostel in BTM Layout, they said. However, the Madiwala police foiled the plan within four hours and rescued the kidnapped student, a native of Odisha, police said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 April,2026 09:06 AM IST | Bengaluru | AgenciesA woman Maoist carrying a reward of '5 lakh was killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district on Monday, police said. The deceased, identified as Rupi, was an area committee member of the Maoists and is believed to be the last senior Telugu cadre active in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 April,2026 08:59 AM IST | Kanker (Chhattisgarh) | AgenciesUttarakhand Police held a security rehearsal in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Dehradun district on Tuesday. During the rehearsal, all aspects related to the programme--including protocols, security arrangements, traffic management, and crowd control--were thoroughly reviewed and tested, a release said. Following the rehearsal, the Director General of Police, Uttarakhand, Deepam Seth held a detailed review and briefing with all gazetted police officers deployed on duty at the Police Lines, Dehradun, to finalize the security arrangements. He directed that all arrangements be ensured in a timely, coordinated, and error-free manner. The DGP instructed all officers to adopt a highly alert, vigilant, and sensitive approach in line with the current security scenario. He emphasized that all personnel deployed on duty must maintain a high standard of turnout and be thoroughly briefed in advance regarding their responsibilities. At the venue, entry points designated for the general public will be equipped with Hand-Held Metal Detectors (HHMD) and Door Frame Metal Detectors (DFMD), and every individual will be thoroughly checked before being allowed to take their seats at designated locations. "No unauthorized items will be permitted inside the venue. Adequate arrangements must also be made in advance for the safe and orderly dispersal of the crowd after the programme. For security reasons, the operation of drones will be completely prohibited in and around the venue," the release said. The DGP directed all officers to ensure that no laxity is shown during duty and to discharge their responsibilities with complete vigilance and dedication. PM Modi will visit Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh on April 14. At around 11:15 am, the Prime Minister will visit Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh to undertake a review of the Wildlife Corridor on the elevated section of the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor. At around 11:40 am, the Prime Minister will pray at the Jai Maa Daat Kali Temple near Dehradun. At around 12:30 PM, Prime Minister will inaugurate the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor at a public function in Dehradun and will also address the gathering on the occasion. The 213 km long six-lane access-controlled Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor has been developed at a cost of over Rs 12,000 crore. The corridor traverses through the states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and will reduce travel time between Delhi and Dehradun from over six hours at present to around two and a half hours, a release said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 April,2026 08:56 AM IST | Dehradun (Uttarakhand) | ANITelangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the Centre is using delimitation of constituencies and the Women's Reservation Bill as "political tools" instead of addressing them as separate national issues. Addressing a press conference at the State Secretariat on Monday, the Chief Minister demanded a detailed debate in Parliament and all State Assemblies on delimitation. He also called for the constitution of an expert committee and consultations with all political parties before any decision is taken. Proposing a "Hybrid Model" for restructuring constituencies, the Chief Minister said that of the 272 additional Lok Sabha seats proposed, 136 should be allocated on a pro-rata basis, while the remaining 136 should be distributed based on Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), giving priority to economically contributing states. He stressed that "numbers, not percentages," should guide the delimitation process, cautioning that disproportionate allocation could weaken the federal structure. The Chief Minister questioned why the Centre convened a special session of Parliament to take up both delimitation and the Women's Reservation Bill simultaneously. He alleged that the move was aimed at portraying opposition parties as being against women's reservation. Revanth Reddy reiterated that the Congress supports women's reservation but insisted it should be implemented based on the 2026 Census rather than the 2011 Census. He noted that if aligned with the 2026 Census, reservations could be implemented in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and upcoming Assembly polls. He recalled that the Women's Reservation Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, but did not become law earlier due to a lack of support. He also accused the BJP of failing to implement the law despite passing it, and alleged that the party treats women as "second-grade citizens." The Chief Minister expressed concern that a 50 per cent increase in seats based solely on population would significantly benefit northern states, reducing the political weight of southern states. He warned that such a move would widen the gap in representation and undermine states contributing significantly to the economy. Revanth Reddy announced that he would write to the Chief Ministers of southern states, as well as smaller states like Punjab and Delhi, to build a united front against what he described as discriminatory delimitation. In a strong remark, he said Union Ministers G. Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar would lose political relevance if delimitation is carried out purely on a population basis, stating they would be reduced to "standing outside the Prime Minister's office." He emphasised that delimitation must follow a democratic process, including debates in State Assemblies and final approval in Parliament. He suggested completing the process by March 2028 and cautioned the Centre against rushing decisions that could deepen regional divisions. He also pointed out that previous delimitation exercises did not rely solely on population, especially in northeastern states and Union Territories, where representation was ensured through special considerations. Concluding, the Chief Minister warned that hasty decisions on such critical issues could harm national unity and the balance of federalism. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 April,2026 08:52 AM IST | Hyderabad (Telangana) | ANIIn a significant step towards wildlife conservation, Wildlife SOS, in collaboration with the Maharashtra Forest Department, has expanded its Open Wells Conservation Project in the Junnar region. As per the officials, the NGO has secured a total of 31 open wells to prevent accidental falls of leopards and other wild animals. Over the past year, 11 wells were newly covered, adding to ongoing efforts to mitigate risks in areas with high wildlife movement. While the initiative is now being scaled across high-risk zones under the Junnar Forest Division, it also includes villages like Otur, Pimpari Pendhar, and Pimpalvandi, where human-leopard interactions are frequent. Along with executing wildlife preventive measures, Wildlife SOS continues to respond swiftly to emergencies. Over the past year, six wild animals were safely rescued from wells, reflecting the team’s constant vigilance and on-ground presence, even as efforts remain focused on reducing such incidents altogether. Strong support from the local communities To strengthen awareness, field teams from Wildlife SOS engage directly with well owners and residents to identify high-risk sites and implement practical, long-term solutions. Furthermore, the initiative has also received strong support from local communities, making the conservation a lot easier. However, this collective effort of Wildlife SOS, the Maharashtra Forest Department and the locals has contributed to a noticeable decline in such incidents across the region. Mahendra Dhore, manager of the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre, Wildlife SOS, said, “Our approach focuses not only on rescue but also on prevention and awareness. By working closely with villagers and the forest department, we are addressing the root causes of these incidents.” Smita Rajhans, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Junnar Forest Division, added, “This initiative demonstrates how targeted, solution-oriented conservation can create real impact. The collaboration between our teams and local communities has been instrumental in the success of this project.” Kartick Satyanarayan, co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS, stated, “Every well we secure is a step towards ensuring that wild animals can safely navigate shared landscapes. We remain committed to expanding this initiative and strengthening coexistence strategies.” Geeta Seshamani, co-founder and Secretary, Wildlife SOS, said, “Long-term conservation depends on consistent, science-backed efforts. As Wildlife SOS continues to expand the Open Wells Conservation Project, the organisation aims to further reduce human-wildlife conflict and create safer habitats for India’s wildlife.”
14 April,2026 08:48 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavAn army brigadier and his son were allegedly assaulted by a group of men when the officer objected to two people consuming alcohol inside a parked car, police sources said on Monday. The incident took place in the Vasant Enclave area of southwest Delhi on Saturday. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 April,2026 08:42 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesSeven persons were killed and four suffered injuries after being run over by a speeding truck on a roadside in Gujarat’s Surendranagar district in the wee hours of Monday. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 April,2026 08:34 AM IST | Surendranagar | AgenciesPrime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday, April 14. PM Modi will be inaugurating the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor in Dehradun. According to the Prime Minister's Office, at around 11:15 am, the Prime Minister will visit Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh to undertake a review of the wildlife corridor on the elevated section of the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor. Following this, Modi will perform Darshan and Pooja at Jai Maa Daat Kali Temple near Dehradun, as per ANI. Furthermore, at around 12:30 pm, the Prime Minister will also be inaugurating the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor at a public event in Dehradun and will also address the gathering on the occasion. Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor developed at a cost of Rs 12,000 crore As reported by ANI, the 213 km long, six-lane, access-controlled Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor has been developed at a cost of over Rs 12,000 crore. The state-of-the-art corridor traverses through the national capital, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The highway has been developed to reduce travel time between Delhi and Dehradun from over six hours at present to around two and a half hours. Implementation of the highway project between Delhi and Dehradun also includes the construction of 10 interchanges, three Railway Over Bridges (ROBs), four major bridges and 12 wayside amenities to enable seamless high-speed connectivity. The official statement from the PMO also noted that the corridor has been equipped with an Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) to provide a safer and more efficient travel experience for commuters. Highway built to reduce human-animal conflict Keeping in view the ecological sensitivity, rich biodiversity and wildlife in the region, the corridor between the national capital and Dehradun has been designed with several features aimed at significantly reducing man-animal conflict. To ensure the free movement of wild animals, the project incorporates several dedicated wildlife protection features. These include a 12 km-long wildlife elevated corridor, which is one of the longest in Asia. Furthermore, the corridor also includes eight animal passes, two elephant underpasses of 200 metres each, and a 370-metre-long tunnel near the Daat Kali temple. According to the PMO, the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor will play a pivotal role in strengthening regional economic growth by enhancing connectivity between major tourism and economic centres as well as opening new avenues for trade and development across the region. (With inputs from ANI)
14 April,2026 08:12 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
-1776152804884_d.png?tr=w-436,h-271 "Newly constructed Delhi-Saharanpur-Dehradun Expressway ahead of its inauguration. PIC/PTI")
