New Delhi: The 210-kilometre Delhi–Dehradun Expressway, which will cut the current six-hour travel time between the two cities by more than half, is now expected to open by February 2026. The project has faced multiple delays, pushing its previous target of October 2025, a senior official familiar with the progress said.

The expressway, being built at an estimated cost of ₹11,868.6 crore, was originally scheduled for completion in December 2024. However, the revised target was later set for October 2025. With construction work still in full swing, the timeline has now been extended to early 2026.

Reports suggest that the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has directed the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to inaugurate the project only after all four phases are complete.

Four Phases of Construction

The first phase, beginning at Akshardham in Delhi and passing through Geeta Colony, Shastri Park, Mandola Vihar (Ghaziabad), and up to Khekra in Baghpat, has been ready for over six months. During the September 8 floods in Delhi, several two-wheeler riders reportedly removed barriers to use the stretch and bypass traffic jams.

The second phase, from Baghpat to Saharanpur, is also nearing completion, with only finishing touches pending on certain portions.

The third phase, which involves expanding the existing brownfield section between Saharanpur Bypass and Ganeshpur, is also in advanced stages, officials said.

Meanwhile, the fourth phase, covering the elevated section near Dehradun, is currently undergoing safety and finishing works.

An official from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) told a daily that monsoon-related flooding in a seasonal river caused temporary slowdowns, but the remaining work is expected to be completed by November.

Project Background

The foundation stone for the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway was laid in 2021. The expressway begins at Akshardham in Delhi and runs through Baghpat, Baraut, Shamli, and Saharanpur.

A highlight of the project is its 12-kilometre elevated corridor through Rajaji National Park, making it Asia’s longest wildlife-friendly stretch, featuring six animal underpasses. The expressway also includes over 100 underpasses, five railway overbridges, and will connect with the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway, the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, and key routes to Haridwar and Roorkee.