Why a 200-year-old mosque in Varanasi was demolished in the middle of the night
Authorities carried out a heavily guarded overnight operation in Varanasi as land was cleared for an ambitious transport hub project linked to Kashi railway station.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will open the Delhi–Dehradun Economic Corridor on Tuesday, rolling out a major expressway project expected to make travel between the national capital and Uttarakhand faster and smoother.
The project, stretching 213 km and built at a cost of over Rs 12,000 crore, is expected to significantly ease travel between Delhi and Dehradun, reducing the journey time from more than six hours to about two-and-a-half hours. The corridor passes through Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, positioning itself as a major infrastructure link for tourism and trade in the region.
Advertisement
PM’s itinerary includes wildlife corridor review and temple visit
Before the inauguration, the Prime Minister will visit Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh to review a wildlife corridor, according to an official statement.
Advertisement
At around 11.40 am, he will offer Darshan and Pooja at the Jai Maa Daat Kali Temple near Dehradun. He is scheduled to formally inaugurate the economic corridor at around 12.30 pm during a public event, where he will also address a gathering, the Prime Minister’s Office said.
Key features include interchanges, bridges and smart systems
The access-controlled six-lane expressway includes 10 interchanges, three Railway Over Bridges, four major bridges and 12 wayside amenities aimed at ensuring smoother and faster travel.
An Advanced Traffic Management System has been integrated into the corridor to enhance safety and improve traffic flow for commuters.
Wildlife protection measures built into the corridor
The project incorporates several features to minimise human-animal conflict in ecologically sensitive zones.
A 12-km-long elevated wildlife corridor, among the longest in Asia, has been constructed to facilitate uninterrupted movement of animals. The project also includes eight animal passes, two elephant underpasses measuring 200 metres each, and a 370-metre tunnel near the Daat Kali temple.
Project aims to boost regional economy and tourism
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the corridor is expected to strengthen economic activity by improving access to key tourism and business hubs across the region.
The project is part of a broader push to develop infrastructure that balances high-speed connectivity with environmental sustainability, the statement added.
Advertisement
