Skip City, Save Time: Dehradun To Get Game-Changing 12-Km Bypass By April 2027; Work 44% Complete

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said the bypass will also connect to the newly inaugurated Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor

The project’s alignment is through forest areas, and several mitigation measures have been incorporated to ensure protection of wildlife. Representational image

A 12-km access-controlled bypass in Dehradun will be ready by April 2027, offering vehicles meant for Himachal Pradesh to completely skip the city, the National Highways Authority of India said on Thursday. The four-lane project costs Rs 716 crore and has achieved about 44% progress so far.

In an official statement, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said the bypass will also connect to the newly inaugurated Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor.

“The project involves development of a greenfield alignment from Jhajhra connecting the new Paonta Saheb-Ballupur section of NH-7 and ending at Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor near Asharori Check Post in Dehradun District of Uttarakhand,” the statement added.

Speaking with News18, a ministry official said the current distance between the two points is about 25 to 30 km, depending upon the route taken.

“Currently, it takes about an hour to complete the journey. The new road will allow traffic to skip Dehradun city entirely if they are heading further north and eventually will also ease the traffic in Dehradun city,” said the official, requesting anonymity.

Upon completion, the bypass will provide substantial relief to residents of Dehradun, as it will improve overall urban mobility and quality of life in the region.

The new project will also improve connectivity to Mussoorie, supporting tourism growth in the region.

In the statement, the ministry added that the road has been strategically designed as a fully access-controlled national highway. This bypass will also function as an alternate southwestern route, diverting traffic towards the Selaqui industrial area, Vikasnagar, Herbertpur in Uttarakhand and Paonta Sahib in Himachal Pradesh.

“The project will significantly help to reduce traffic congestion and vehicular pollution in Dehradun. It will also improve inter-state connectivity to Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh through Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor,” it added.

The bypass has been designed for 100 kmph, while certain stretches will have a regulated speed of 80 kmph to minimise impact on forest land. In line with environmental considerations, the width of the highway (right of way) has been optimised to 30 metres, which is lower than the conventional 60 metres, to preserve trees and maintain ecological balance.

The project’s alignment is through forest areas, and several mitigation measures have been incorporated to ensure protection of wildlife, including construction of a 350-metre-long Vehicular Overpass (VOP) to facilitate safe movement of large animals, along with a dedicated Cattle Overpass (COP).

Also, seven minor bridges and 21 box culverts will be constructed to support movement of wildlife. Movement of smaller fauna such as reptiles and amphibians will be facilitated through five dedicated Hume Pipe culverts, the statement added.

“To further enhance safety and ecological protection, continuous fencing is being installed along the project stretch, along with appropriate signage indicating speed limits and wildlife zones,” the ministry said, adding that these measures are aimed at minimising human-wildlife conflict and ensuring safe passage for animals across the forest area.

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