Asia’s Longest Wildlife Corridor Nears Completion on Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, Opening Expected by July-End

The much-awaited Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, a 210-kilometre, high-speed six-lane highway, is nearing its final stage of completion. According to latest reports, the expressway features Asia’s longest wildlife corridor, stretching 14 kilometres, and constructed near Rajaji National Park, a habitat for elephants, leopards, deer, and other wildlife species.

The wildlife corridor is designed to minimize human-animal conflict, ensuring safe passage for wild animals while allowing uninterrupted traffic flow. The stretch includes a combination of underpasses, elevated roads, and tunnels, enabling animals to move freely across their natural terrain without the risk of colliding with vehicles.

Opening Likely by July-End

Sources close to the project have indicated that around 95% of the work on the Saharanpur section of the expressway has already been completed. The remaining 5% is expected to be wrapped up in the coming weeks. As a result, the inauguration of the expressway is expected around July 31, with full access to vehicles likely starting in August 2025.

Once fully operational, the expressway will reduce travel time between Delhi and Dehradun from 6 hours to just 2.5 hours, with vehicles allowed to travel at speeds up to 120 km/hr.

Key Connectivity & Investment

Built at an estimated cost of ₹12,000–13,000 crore, the expressway will start from Akshardham in Delhi and pass through several key districts including:

Baghpat

Meerut

Muzaffarnagar

Shamli

Saharanpur

Roorkee

Haridwar

Dehradun

The route enhances connectivity between Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, facilitating smoother passenger and cargo movement, and boosting tourism and trade across the region.

Awaiting Formal Announcement

Although construction is nearly complete, no formal date has been announced yet by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Once operational, the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway will set a new benchmark in infrastructure development — both for its engineering innovation and for environmental conservation through the inclusion of Asia’s longest wildlife corridor.