PM Modi to inaugurate Delhi-Dehradun Expressway today, reviews elevated wildlife corridor

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)

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!