Much Awaited Delhi-Dehradun Expressway's Pillar Collapses Near Meerut

Once completed, the expressway will cut the travel time between Delhi and Dehradun from six hours to three hours.

The project was started in early 2021 and was developed in phases.

Source : X

A pillar of the under-construction Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, built at the cost of Rs 12,000 crore, collapsed in ​Deoband, near Meerut, injuring two workers. 

"Police and administration reached the spot after receiving information. According to NHAI officials, two workers have been injured and admitted to the hospital. The news being spread on social media is not true. The situation is normal," Rampur Maniharan SDM Shweta Pandey said.

Once completed, the expressway will cut the travel time between Delhi and Dehradun from six hours to three hours. From Akshardham Temple to Baghpat, which is approximately 32 kilometres and usually takes more than an hour, will now be covered in just 25 to 30 minutes. 

This would greatly benefit the people travelling from Delhi to Baghpat and people from surrounding areas like Karawal Nagar and Mustafabad, as it would enhance the flow of traffic and movement.

This 212 km expressway will link Shastri Park, Khajuri Khas, Mandola in Khekra, Baghpat, Shamli, and Saharanpr and finally reach Dehradun. The expressway will be connected to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway as well, making interstate connectivity easier.

The expressway will be a game-changer for connectivity in Uttarakhand by benefiting commuters, tourists, and freight transport by connecting the two major cities.

All About Project Phases

The project was started in early 2021 and was developed in phases. While the stretch between Delhi and Saharanpur is almost operational, the stretch from Saharanpur to Dehradun is in advanced stages of development. As of the end of this year, over 75 per cent of the construction is complete. 

According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the six-lane Delhi-Dehradun Greenfield Access Controlled Expressway has been built at a cost of Rs 12,000 crore. The expressway is part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana, a government initiative aimed at enhancing road infrastructure across India.