Dehradun-Delhi Expressway likely to be ready by October
The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, starting from Akshardham Temple, Delhi would pass through Baghpat, Baraut, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli and Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh) and culminate at Dehradun.
The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has targeted to complete this ambitious project by October. In a written statement in Rajya Sabha on July 23, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari said: 'The Dehradun-Delhi Access Controlled highway with a total capital cost of Rs 11,868.6 crore is targeted for completion by October 2025.'
The Union Minister also stated that 17,913 number of trees have been felled and transplanted for the execution of the project. 'As environmental mitigation measure, compensatory afforestation in a total of 157.2 hectares of land with a cost of Rs.22.05 crore is being carried out by the respective Forest Departments.
In addition to that avenue plantation of 50,600 trees has also been taken up by the National Highways Authority of India ((NHAI) within the Right of Way of the highway. Further, an amount of Rs.40 crore has been provided to Shivalik Forest Divsion, Uttar Pradesh and Dehradun Forest Division, Uttarakhand for eco-restoration plan,' Gadkari said.
The minister was responding to questions raised by Naresh Bansal regarding the time frame by which the Dehradun-Delhi Expressway would be ready and opened for the public and the the cost incurred for the same and the number of trees that were cut and planted for this purpose.
The Dehradun-Delhi Expressway will have a designated speed limit of 100 kmph and is expected to reduce travel time between Delhi and Dehradun from the current 6.5 hours to just 2.5 hours. The expressway, would have a spur towards Haridwar and would also connect to Char Dhaam Highway, thus enhancing the connectivity to the hill stations and pilgrimage sites of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
Anish Mondal is a business journalist with over nine years of experience. He writes on diverse subjects such as Infrastructure, Railways, Roadways, Aviation, Politics, Market, Parliamentary affairs, Corporate earnings, General and International news etc. ... Read More
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