The expressway is also equipped with 10 interchanges, three railway overbridges, four major bridges, and roadside facilities for commuters.
Delhi–Dehradun Expressway Gets 12-km Wildlife Corridor, Saves 33,840 Trees
The Delhi–Dehradun Expressway is emerging as a major infrastructure project that combines high-speed connectivity with significant ecological protection measures, according to official information.
Officials said the 213-km six-lane corridor includes several advanced engineering and environmental features designed to reduce ecological impact while improving regional mobility.
Key ecological and wildlife features include:
- A 12-km elevated wildlife corridor
- Two dedicated elephant underpasses
- Eight animal movement passages across forest stretches
- A 370-metre tunnel near Dat Kaali temple
- Sound and light barrier systems to reduce disturbance to wildlife
The final 20-km stretch of the expressway passes through ecologically sensitive zones, including forest regions in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand such as the Shivalik forest division and areas near Rajaji Tiger Reserve.
Authorities said the project initially estimated tree felling at around 45,000, but improved engineering and route optimisation reduced this to nearly 11,160 trees, saving approximately 33,840 trees.
Authorities added that compensatory afforestation has been carried out across 165.5 hectares, where 1.95 lakh saplings have been planted to offset forest land use. Around Rs 40 crore has also been allocated for ecological restoration and wildlife protection under court supervision.
The expressway is also equipped with 10 interchanges, three railway overbridges, four major bridges, and roadside facilities for commuters, along with an advanced traffic management system.
Once completed, travel time between Delhi and Dehradun is expected to reduce from about five to six hours to nearly two and a half hours, significantly improving connectivity while supporting tourism, trade, and regional economic activity.
