₹12,000 crore Delhi-Dehradun Expressway damaged after first rain – public raises quality concerns

Shivani Kumari | Jul 01, 2025, 14:34 IST
( Image credit : Indiatimes )
Delhi-Dehradun Expressway: ₹12,000 crore Delhi-Dehradun Expressway suffers damage after first rains, raising serious public concerns over construction quality and environmental impact. Read on to know more in detail.
Delhi-Dehradun Expressway: The newly constructed Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, a ₹12,000 crore infrastructure project designed to halve travel time between the two cities. It has come under intense scrutiny after suffering significant damage following the very first rainfall. Reports and social media posts reveal that a large hole appeared on the expressway shortly after the rain. This sparked widespread public outrage and allegations of poor construction quality and possible corruption.

The expressway, spanning approximately 210 km and featuring advanced infrastructure such as elevated wildlife corridors and underpasses. It is a flagship project under the Bharatmala Pariyojana initiative. It promises to reduce the current six-hour journey to about 2.5 hours. This will eventually boost connectivity, tourism, and economic development in Uttarakhand and adjoining regions.

However, the premature damage has raised serious doubts about the durability and quality of construction. Social media users have accused contractors of misusing public funds.

This incident follows a recent mishap near Meerut where a pillar of the under-construction expressway collapsed, injuring two workers. While officials attributed that accident to technical failure of crane equipment rather than construction flaws, the current damage due to rain has intensified public concern.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has yet to issue a detailed statement addressing the rain-induced damage. The expressway’s first phase, covering the stretch from Akshardham in Delhi to Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh, is nearing operational readiness, with full completion expected by mid-2025, pending resolution of a legal dispute over land acquisition.


As the expressway prepares for its grand opening, these quality concerns pose a significant challenge to its promise of safe, efficient travel. Authorities face mounting pressure to ensure rigorous quality checks and transparent investigations to restore public confidence in this high-profile project.


FAQs


1. What is the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway and its key features?

Answer: The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway is a 210 km long, six-lane greenfield highway connecting Delhi to Dehradun. It features 113 underpasses, 5 railway overbridges, and Asia’s longest 12 km elevated wildlife corridor over Rajaji National Park. It is designed to reduce travel time from 6.5 hours to just 2.5 hours.

2. When will the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway be fully operational?

Answer: The expressway is expected to be fully operational by mid-2025, with some sections already functional since early 2025.

3. How much does the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway cost and who is developing it?

Answer: The project cost is approximately ₹12,000 to ₹13,000 crore and is being developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) model. This investment covers highways, tunnels, bridges, and related infrastructure.

4. How will the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway impact travel and connectivity?

Answer: The expressway will drastically reduce travel time between Delhi and Dehradun from over 6 hours to 2.5 hours, easing congestion on existing routes like the Delhi-Meerut Expressway.

5. What environmental measures are included in the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway project?

Answer: Special provisions include a 12 km elevated wildlife corridor to protect animals crossing Rajaji National Park, multiple animal and elephant underpasses, and a 340-meter tunnel at Daat Kali.

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