The expressway starts at Akshardham in Delhi and goes all the way to Dehradun, passing through Baghpat, Shamli and Saharanpur. It connects with the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE) at Khekra.
A big part of the long-awaited Delhi–Dehradun Greenfield Highway has finally opened for public use, and people can now travel from Delhi to Baghpat in just a few minutes. After almost a year of waiting, the 32-km elevated stretch of the expressway is now open. Drivers can go from Akshardham Temple in Delhi to the Mavikala interchange on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (near Baghpat) in only 20–25 minutes.
Trial runs started late Sunday night after NHAI removed the barricades at Geeta Colony in Delhi and at the entry point of the Eastern Peripheral Expressway. By Monday morning, vehicles were already moving smoothly on the six-lane elevated road.
The full 213-km expressway is still being built in some parts of Baghpat, Shamli, Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur. Officials say the entire highway should be finished within the next two to three months, likely by February 2026.
Toll-Free Travel for Now
The 31.6-km elevated section is currently free to use. There is a toll plaza near Loni, but people who travel only on this stretch do not have to pay anything yet. This is a big relief for thousands of daily commuters from Baghpat and nearby areas.
Speed Limits
- Cars: 80 km/h
- Heavy commercial vehicles: 60 km/h
Two-wheelers are also allowed for now. A final decision will be taken once toll collection begins.
Why Was the Delhi–Dehradun Elevated Corridor Delayed?
The entire project costs about ₹11,868 crore and has already faced several delays. It was supposed to open in October 2025. Although the elevated part was finished almost a year ago, it stayed closed because of technical problems with the bearings (which have now been fixed) and pending government approvals.
Bagpat MP Dr. Rajkumar Sangwan had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to highlight that solar panels and reflectors on the closed stretch were getting damaged by miscreants during the long wait.
After the MP’s request, NHAI completed trial runs and has now opened the elevated road permanently. No major problems or safety issues have been found so far.
Route and Key Intersections
The expressway starts at Akshardham in Delhi and goes all the way to Dehradun, passing through Baghpat, Shamli and Saharanpur. It connects with the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE) at Khekra.
The project is being built in four phases. The first phase—from Akshardham to the EPE junction—has been ready for more than six months. In the Rajaji National Park area, the project also includes Asia’s longest elevated wildlife corridor, a 12-km stretch built to protect animal movement. In addition, six underpasses have been created to ensure animals can cross safely.
