Narendra Modi inaugurates Delhi-Dehradun expressway; travel time to drop to 2.5 hours, boost connectivity and tourism

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated the Delhi-Dehradun expressway, a high-speed economic corridor designed to sharply cut travel time between the national capital and Uttarakhand’s capital while easing congestion on existing routes.

Spanning 213 kilometres and built at a cost of over Rs 12,000 crore, the six-lane access-controlled corridor—expandable up to 12 lanes—passes through Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, connecting key regions including Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur.

Also Read: PM Modi holds roadshow in Dehradun ahead of Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor inauguration


Once fully operational, the expressway is expected to reduce travel time between Delhi and Dehradun from over six hours to around two and a half hours, providing a major boost to tourism in hill destinations such as Mussoorie while improving regional connectivity.

The corridor is equipped with smart traffic management systems and is designed as a high-speed route with controlled access, aimed at ensuring smoother and safer travel. It is also expected to significantly reduce traffic load on the existing NH-58.

Also Read: Delhi-Dehradun Expressway opens: Route, map, toll charges, entry, exit points and travel time; Here's everything we know

Highlighting its environmental considerations, the project incorporates green highway features, including a wildlife passage along the elevated section in Saharanpur, which the Prime Minister reviewed during his visit.

The Delhi-Dehradun expressway forms part of a broader push to strengthen infrastructure and economic linkages, with the government positioning it as a key corridor to drive tourism, trade and faster mobility across northern India.