Delhi–Dehradun Expressway opens with no toll charges: Check latest update

After a long wait, there is good news for Delhi Dehradun travelers. A major section of the 210-km Delhi-Dehradun Expressway has been opened for public trial, offering the first glimpse of the long-awaited high-speed corridor connecting the national capital with the capital of Uttarakhand. According to a TOI report, trial runs of the expressway, covering an area of ​​32 km from Akshardham Temple in Delhi to the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE) junction near Baghpat (Khekra), started on December 1, 2025. Officials told TOI that vehicles can now use this section on a trial basis for almost a month without paying any fee.

What does the trial mean for travelers?

The pilot phase will help authorities test traffic flow, security measures and support services. To manage the increased movement, authorities are planning rest areas, car parks, drinking water points, sanitation blocks and first aid units along the route. Once fully completed, the highway will connect Akshardham to Dehradun via major UP districts such as Baghpat, Baraut, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli and Saharanpur.
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From Delhi to Dehradun in just 2.5 hours

A trip that currently takes about six hours could soon be reduced to about 2.5 hours. The high-speed, access-controlled road is designed to make long-distance travel smoother and safer. Officials said the project was built with modern features including:

• 12 km elevated wildlife corridor through Rajaji National Park/Shivalik forest
• 340-meter Daat Kali tunnel for safer animal movement
• Lots of animal underpasses on Dehradun side
• Rainwater collection pits every 500 meters
• More than 400 water charging points
• A future installation of 14.75 km of solar panels, including a 6.9 km elevated area near Akshardham
• Access controlled lanes with a speed limit of 100 km/h

These additions aim to balance infrastructure growth with environmental measures.

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Delhi-Dehradun Expressway

The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway was approved in 2020 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone in December 2021. The estimated project cost is ₹ 11,868.6 crore. While the Delhi-Baghpat segment is currently in trial phase for a month, construction is ongoing on the remaining sections:

• Baghpat to Saharanpur
• Saharanpur Bypass to Ganeshpur
• Last match for Dehradun

Even in the trial phase, the semi-open corridor is facilitating the movement of people traveling from East and Northeast Delhi, Ghaziabad and Noida, bypassing old congested routes. The limited opening marks a small but important step towards a fully functional highway that promises speed, safety and a smoother journey for thousands of daily commuters.