Delhi-Dehradun Expressway

The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway (DDE) is a 212 km six-lane access-controlled corridor connecting Delhi to Dehradun (Uttarakhand capital) via Saharanpur and Roorkee. Sanctioned in 2018 and currently in advanced construction (5 packages, 60-80% complete as of late 2024), the expressway will reduce Delhi-Dehradun travel from 6.5 hours (current NH-72A) to 2.5 hours.

The project's signature feature is a 12 km elevated viaduct over the Rajaji National Park — India's longest elevated wildlife corridor. The viaduct is built at sufficient height to allow wildlife free movement underneath, including the park's famous Asian elephant herd. Wildlife habitat-engineering input was provided by Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun.

The expressway also includes a 5 km tunnel through the Mohand-Asharodi reserved forest in UP, India's first tunnel through a notified reserved forest. NHAI executed the project in 5 packages totalling ₹12,000 crore between 2019 and 2025, with L&T (Package 1, Akshardham-EPE link), Welspun, and PNC Infratech sharing the construction.

Design features include: 6-lane (3+3) main carriageway, design speed 100 km/h, 32 m wide ROW with provision for future widening, integrated EV charging at intermediate plazas, and seamless connection to Delhi via the Akshardham interchange and to Dehradun via the planned Doon Outer Ring Road. Phased opening planned through 2025.