Travelling from Delhi to Mussoorie is set to become significantly faster and smoother with the construction of a new 26-kilometre elevated road connecting the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway directly to the hill station.
The project, led by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), is being hailed as a major boost to regional connectivity and tourism in Uttarakhand. With the Detailed Project Report (DPR) nearing completion, the elevated road will allow vehicles to bypass the busy roads of Dehradun city, currently a major bottleneck for tourists heading to Mussoorie. Once completed, the journey from Delhi to Mussoorie is expected to take just four hours by private vehicle, according to officials. The proposed elevated corridor will stretch over the Rispana and Bindal rivers in Dehradun, ensuring uninterrupted transit for vehicles. Land acquisition is planned across 26 localities in Dehradun, requiring the demolition of over 2,600 houses along the riverbanks. The total estimated project cost stands at ₹6,100 crore, covering both construction and compensation to displaced residents. “Land acquisition will be carried out in 26 localities to build the 26 km long elevated road in Dehradun. Land will be acquired by demolishing 2,614 houses built along the banks of the Rispana and Bindal rivers,” said Banshidhar Tiwari, Vice-Chairman of the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA), as quoted by The New Indian Express.
Government officials have assured fair compensation, offering affected residents a choice between monetary settlement or land-for-land options. The approach is aimed at ensuring minimal resistance to land clearance and maintaining the pace of development. The expressway is not only expected to benefit tourists but also Dehradun’s residents, who often grapple with daily congestion due to heavy vehicular traffic. By diverting Delhi-bound vehicles directly toward Mussoorie, the elevated road will help decongest Dehradun’s arterial routes and residential zones. The expressway project is part of a broader push by NHAI to modernise road infrastructure across northern India. In recent years, Uttarakhand has witnessed increased tourism footfall, which has placed additional pressure on its road networks. The new elevated route could serve as a model for future bypass strategies in other congested hill towns.
While a completion date has not yet been finalised, officials expect that once the DPR and land acquisition are complete, construction could begin soon after. The project, once operational, is expected to redefine weekend travel and tourism from Delhi to the hills.
