Delhi–Dehradun expressway misses July deadline? Here’s why commuters are angry with NHAI

Delhi–Dehradun expressway: The long-awaited Delhi–Dehradun Expressway is expected to once again miss its deadline—this time, July 2025. This has prompted sharp criticism from commuters and local residents. The 210-kilometer, ₹12,000 crore expressway was supposed to reduce travel time from 6.5 hours to just 2.5 hours. But the delay is causing more chaos than relief.



Despite most construction being completed, a key bottleneck remains—a 1,600 square meter land parcel in Mandola, Ghaziabad, stuck in legal disputes. The house on this plot, owned by Veersen Saroha’s family, has been under litigation since the 1990s. The Supreme Court has recently intervened, urging quicker resolution.
Other setbacks include a pillar collapse in Saharanpur, minor technical issues, and some local resistance, slowing down final clearances. However, officials say the majority of the work is done.



On X, several citizens voiced their anger at NHAI’s poor management. The repeated delays in the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway have sparked widespread frustration among daily commuters. People are voicing their anger over NHAI’s handling of the project, pointing to poor planning, lack of transparency, and rising inconvenience.


Many are tired of the constant traffic jams, especially in key areas like Geeta Colony and Karawal Nagar, and are urging authorities to open completed stretches without further delay. Citizens are questioning how such an important project can be allowed to stall for so long.


Once operational, the expressway will include six lanes, 113 underpasses, 5 railway overbridges, and 76 km of service roads. It features 16 interchanges for smooth access and a 340-meter tunnel at Datkali in Dehradun.


Its most innovative feature is the 12-km elevated wildlife corridor over Rajaji National Park—Asia’s longest—designed to protect animals while promoting fast travel.


Regional NHAI officer Mohammed Saifi and Union Minister Harsh Malhotra have stated that final testing is in progress and the expressway is nearly ready. Barring legal hold-ups, they expect it to open by August 2025.

But, commuters remain skeptical. One user asked on X: “Sir, when will the inauguration of the Delhi Dehradun expressway be?”

The project has been praised for balancing infrastructure and environmental protection. Its wildlife corridor and underpasses are designed to minimise ecological impact, a model other projects may follow.


Public trust is wearing thin, but NHAI officials insist that the Delhi-Dehradun expressway will be fully operational soon. Once launched, it will transform regional travel and set new benchmarks in sustainable highway construction.


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