Wildlife bridge speeds Delhi‑Dehradun

India opened the Delhi–Dehradun Economic Corridor on April 14, putting a 213-kilometer expressway into service that cuts the trip to about 2.5 hours. (pmindia.gov.in) Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the six-lane, access-controlled route on Tuesday after reviewing its wildlife section in Saharanpur district. The project crosses Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and cost a little over ₹12,000 crore, according to official statements and press reports. (thehindu.com) The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has said the highway shortens the Delhi–Dehradun distance from 235 kilometers to 210 kilometers and cuts travel time from about 6.5 hours to 2.5 hours. The route is built for speeds of at least 100 kilometers an hour and includes a spur toward Haridwar. (indianexpress.com) The most unusual section is the forest stretch between Ganeshpur and Asharodi, where the road is lifted so animals can keep moving underneath instead of crossing traffic. Officials say that segment includes a 10.97-kilometer animal underpass system and a wildlife elevated corridor averaging 6 to 7 meters in height. (pib.gov.in) That design was added because the last 20 kilometers pass through dense forest linked to Rajaji Tiger Reserve and the Shivalik landscape, where elephants and other species move between habitats. The corridor also includes eight animal passes, two 200-meter elephant underpasses and a tunnel near Maa Daat Kali Temple. (indianexpress.com) (thehindu.com) Days before the opening, the National Highways Authority of India and the Wildlife Institute of India released field data showing animals were already using the structures. Their 40-day monitoring exercise on the Ganeshpur–Asharodi section recorded 40,444 wildlife images covering 18 species, including 60 elephant crossings. (pib.gov.in) The road is also meant to serve traffic beyond Dehradun. Officials say the corridor is intended to improve access to Haridwar and support travel linked to the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, while adding 10 interchanges, three railway overbridges, four major bridges and 12 wayside amenities. (indianexpress.com) (thehindu.com) The expressway was first announced in December 2021, when Modi laid the foundation stone for the project. Four years later, the government is presenting it as a test case for building faster roads through sensitive terrain without sealing off animal routes. (indianexpress.com) (pib.gov.in) For drivers, the immediate change is time: a road trip that used to take most of a day is now meant to fit into a morning. For planners, the harder question starts now — whether the wildlife crossings keep working once full traffic moves in. (thehindu.com) (pib.gov.in)