NHAI to finish Dehradun e-way stretch by Dec ’23

THE 32KM SECTION HAS BEEN DIVIDED INTO 2 PHASES — A 15KM ROAD FROM AKSHARDHAM TO UP’S LONI, AND A 17KM STRETCH FROM LONI TO BAGHPAT

GHAZIABAD: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said it will complete the 32km long Delhi-baghpat section of the proposed 180km Delhi-dehradun national highway, also called NH-709B, by the end of December 2023.

The 32km section has been divided into two phases — a 15km stretch from Delhi’s Akshardham to Loni in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and a 17km stretch from Loni to Baghpat.

“The work order for the 17km stretch in UP (to be built at a cost of ₹1,654 crore) was given in May and the second work order for the Akshardham to Khekra stretch (to be built at a cost of ₹1,264 crore) will be issued within a week. The two phases are scheduled to be ready by December 2023. Once the highway is complete, there will be a direct link between Delhi and

Dehradun,” said Mudit Garg, project director, NHAI.

The highway will have four more phases to further connect Baghpat to Dehradun and are in various stages of completion, said Garg.

Once ready, the highway will shorten the by-road distance from Delhi to Dehradun by about 70km. Currently, travellers between Dehradun and Delhi take a 250km route through Ghaziabad (Delhimeerut Road) and the congested Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Roorkee and Haridwar.

The NHAI official said they got a nod from the Union ministry of road transport and highways to schedule the completion of the first two stretches within two and half years from the date of issuing work orders.

“The highway will cater to about 20,000-30,000 passenger car units per day (a measure of traffic on a road) and will reduce the burden on the Delhi-meerut road, which largely caters to the long-distance traffic passing through Ghaziabad,” Garg added.

The Delhi to Baghpat section is proposed to be developed with 12 lanes that could also be used to accommodate local traffic, with six lanes of the highway dedicated to long distance travellers. According to official estimates last year, the Baghpat to Dehradun stretch is pegged at a cost of ₹4,830 crore and is estimated to be ready within three to five years.