Delhi-Dehradun Expressway Review: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

Morning chai in Delhi and breakfast in Dehradun? Is it really possible? Well, thanks to the newly inaugurated Delhi–Dehradun Expressway, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) claims that the travel time between the two cities has dropped to just 2.5 hours, as opposed to 6–7 hours earlier. That’s a bold claim, no doubt. But is it realistic? We had to find out!

The Journey Begins: Delhi to EPE

After having a piping hot cup of tea in Delhi, we kicked off our journey to Dehradun at 7:08am from Akshardham — the starting point of the new expressway. The first section, which is about 31km, takes you out of Delhi and connects to the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE).

Now, this stretch has been operational for a while, so nothing surprising here. It’s an elevated six-lane highway with a 100km/h speed limit. The road surface is excellent, there are proper lane markings, and multiple speed and surveillance cameras on this stretch.

Technically, two-wheelers and autorickshaws aren’t allowed, but the reality — at least for now — couldn’t be more different. We spotted hordes of two-wheelers and autos, and it was just 7:30am! Thankfully, traffic was otherwise light, so after the first 5–7km, we were cruising at 100km/h.

The Real Game-Changer: EPE to Saharanpur

Once past the EPE, the next stretch — from EPE to Saharanpur — is the real game-changer. It’s a brand-new greenfield expressway, meaning it’s built from scratch, featuring fresh tarmac, wide six lanes, and visibility for miles. However, one important thing to note here is that this stretch is not yet available on Google Maps, so it's likely that the navigation system will show you the old route, going through Bagpat & Shamli. 

There was virtually no traffic, which meant we could set the cruise control at 100km/h in our Mercedes-Benz G450d and cruise without a bother for the next 113km. This road cuts through the region, bypassing towns like Baghpat, Shamli, and Muzaffarnagar, meaning you no longer have to navigate through the chaos of Western UP to reach the hills.

However, while this part of the expressway is in great shape and drastically cuts travel time, there’s a catch. Since it’s an all-new expressway, you’ll see rampant wrong-side driving by trucks, cars, motorcycles, and even bicycles. The most alarming part is that many of these vehicles are in the fast/overtaking lane. It’s a major safety hazard and needs to be addressed at the earliest.

Another problem is the lack of infrastructure. There are no fuel pumps, EV charging stations, food joints, or even a place to get a bottle of water. Multiple rest areas are coming up, but construction is still in the early stages. It will take a good 6–8 months for this stretch to be fully developed.

All things considered, if you’re starting from Delhi, fuel up and grab chai, snacks, and other essentials before entering this stretch.

The Final Stretch: Saharanpur Bypass to Dehradun

After reaching Saharanpur, you merge onto the existing NH7 highway towards Dehradun, which is now part of the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway. This is a brownfield expansion, meaning it has been widened to six lanes.

That said, frequent travellers from Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, and parts of Western UP will know that this section has already been operational for months. The speed limit here is 100km/h, but many locals and daily commuters — especially on two-wheelers — still use this stretch.

As a result, the average speed drops. Ours did too — from 100km/h to around 75–80km/h. The total remaining distance to Dehradun from here is around 70km. This section also includes the all-new 12km-long wildlife corridor over Rajaji National Park, designed to avoid disturbing local wildlife. However, this stretch requires caution.

It’s slightly twisty, has no hard shoulder, and in case of a breakdown or ongoing repair work, you might suddenly encounter a vehicle occupying one of the lanes. The road surface is also slightly uneven in parts, so while 100km/h is possible, you need to stay alert.

Crunch Time: Can you really do Delhi–Dehradun in 2.5 hours?

The answer is a resounding yes! We reached Dehradun at 9:25am, which means it took us just 2 hours and 17 minutes to cover roughly 210km. It’s worth noting that this was achieved despite moderate traffic at both ends, and we did not exceed the prescribed speed limit of 100km/h at any point.

Upon reaching Dehradun, we headed to the famous Buddha Temple in Clement Town and grabbed a fresh plate of momo — because what’s a trip to Dehradun without momo?

Delhi–Dehradun Expressway Summary: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

The Good: Credit where it’s due — the NHAI has done a commendable job. The expressway lives up to its claims and hype. Travel time is nearly halved, the roads are smooth and wide, and intercity travel between the two cities is now seamless. For someone like me, who hails from Dehradun and works in Delhi, this makes going home much easier.

There a total of five toll plazas on the new expressway, and it’ll cost you around 670 one-way. The good thing is, the toll charges come down drastically if you use an annual FASTag. Also, during our trip, only one toll plaza was functional — the others were still work-in-progress.

The Bad: Wrong-side driving and over-speeding are frequent issues. Encountering an auto or a Splendor in the fast lane can be alarming. The speed differential between fast-moving cars and slow-moving vehicles creates potentially dangerous situations.

Also, the lack of infrastructure means the expressway isn’t ideal for travelling during odd-hours because just in case there’s an emergency, you’ll be left stranded.

The Ugly: 2.5 hours to Dehradun means the mountains are closer than ever for Delhi-NCR residents. Easier access will inevitably bring more tourists — and more congestion. As a local, I can say that Dehradun is already stretched on weekends due to the rush towards Mussoorie and nearby hill stations.

This expressway will only add to that pressure. Bottlenecks are already forming at city entry points, and traffic snarls are likely to get worse as more casual tourists head to the hills.

Delhi–Dehradun Expressway Review: The Report Card