TNNNew Delhi: Chief minister Rekha Gupta and LG TS Sandhu on Tuesday hailed the inauguration of the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing the Rs 12,000-crore project as a major milestone in the capital’s development.Joining the programme virtually on the birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, Gupta termed the occasion “special and auspicious” and credited the Prime Minister for bringing momentum to infrastructure development in Delhi. She said the expressway would enhance connectivity while contributing to economic growth and tourism.Gupta said projects worth nearly Rs 1.25 lakh crore are currently under way in Delhi under the Union ministry of road transport and highways, reshaping the city’s urban landscape. She added that the expressway is a link between Delhi’s modern infrastructure and Uttarakhand’s spiritual significance. “It is a true confluence of development and faith,” she said.The corridor is expected to reduce travel time between Delhi and Dehradun from about 6–7 hours to 2.5 hours, bringing relief to commuters and boosting regional economic activity. Gupta said that India’s expressway network has expanded to over 3,000 km, while the national highway network has grown to nearly 1.46 lakh km.LG Sandhu said: “With seamless, signal-free connectivity beginning from key points such as Akshardham, Geeta Colony, and Shastri Park, it promises to significantly decongest city roads while catalysing regional trade, tourism, and economic activity.”“Equally noteworthy is the project’s strong commitment to sustainability. The inclusion of Asia’s largest elevated wildlife corridor ensures the protection of natural habitats, reflecting a balanced and forward-looking approach to development and environmental stewardship,” he said.Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva welcomed the inauguration, calling the expressway a “historic and visionary step” towards development. Addressing a gathering, he said infrastructure growth under the Prime Minister’s leadership is “creating new history every day”.Sachdeva said projects worth around Rs 65,000 crore are under way in Delhi, with Rs 33,000 crore completed and Rs 32,000 crore in progress.He added that peripheral expressways have reduced traffic pressure on the capital, with around 73,000 vehicles bypassing Delhi daily.Highlighting the environmental component, he said nearly one million metric tonnes of waste from the Ghazipur landfill had been used in the project, calling it an example of the ‘waste to wealth’ approach.
