If you reside in Delhi, you likely enjoy taking road trips, and one popular destination is Dehradun. Currently, the drive from Delhi to Dehradun takes about 5 to 6 hours, but that’s set to change soon. A new six-lane expressway connecting Delhi and Dehradun is being developed, covering a distance of 212 km and costing around INR 12,000 crore. In February, a 3.5 km section of the expressway was officially opened, linking Delhi with Dehradun. And now, the eagerly awaited Delhi-Saharanpur-Dehradun Expressway has commenced trial runs, marking a significant improvement in connectivity between the National Capital Region and Uttarakhand.
As reported by ANI, the first 32 km segment of the expressway was opened for public trials recently. This section starts at Akshardham Temple in Delhi and goes through places like Geeta Colony, Shastri Park, and Mandola Vihar in Ghaziabad before reaching Khekra in Baghpat. It’s anticipated that the official inauguration will take place in late December or early January.
Once fully operational, the journey time from Delhi to Dehradun will be significantly reduced from 6.5 hours to just 2.5 hours.
#WATCH | Delhi | Delhi–Saharanpur–Dehradun Expressway opened for trial run today
Once fully operational, the expressway is expected to reduce the Delhi-Dehradun journey from the usual 6-6.5 hours to 2-2.5 hours
A motorcyclist says, “Today it has been opened for a trial run.… pic.twitter.com/0KQjjGT1ee
— ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2025
Delhi To Dehradun Expressway Stretches 212 km
The six-lane expressway stretches 212 km and starts near Akshardham in Delhi and includes routes through the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, Shastri Park, Khajuri Khas, and Mandola at the Khekra interchange. The route goes through parts of Uttar Pradesh, passing through Baghpat, Shamli, and Saharanpur, until it reaches Dehradun in Uttarakhand.
If you intend to use the expressway during the test phase, it’s important to note that the Akshardham-Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE) segment is anticipated to greatly alleviate traffic for travelers heading to Ghaziabad and Noida. By offering a direct, high-speed route, this expressway is expected to redirect thousands of vehicles away from currently congested areas.
Additionally, you must also know that the National Highways Authority of India is working on new parking and rest areas along the stretch between Akshardham Junction and the Uttar Pradesh border in Delhi. Three up-to-date locations will be set up near the East Delhi district magistrate’s office, Gandhi Nagar market, and Geeta Colony. These sites will provide restrooms, drinking water, solar lights, first-aid facilities, and electronic parking systems. Stay tuned for more details!
