Delhi-Dehradun Expressway to open in February 2026, not December 2024
The much-awaited Delhi-Dehradun Expressway—meant to slash travel time from six hours to less than half—is now expected to open by February 2026, after several delays.
The Prime Minister's Office wants the whole project wrapped up before any grand opening, pushing the date back from the original December 2024 target.
About the expressway
The expressway is being built in four phases. The first stretch (Delhi to Khekra) has been ready for months, and the second (to Saharanpur) is almost done.
Work is moving fast on widening roads near Saharanpur, while the final phase will create a 12-km elevated corridor through Rajaji National Park—Asia's longest such elevated corridor.
Environmental concerns
Building this expressway meant cutting or moving nearly 18,000 trees, but NHAI says they're planting over 50,000 new ones and have set aside ₹40 crore for forest work in UP and Uttarakhand.
Still, the project remains under close watch by India's National Green Tribunal, which fined NHAI for failing to furnish details of afforestation.