PM to inaugurate Delhi-Dehradun economic corridor today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Dehradun in the state of Uttarakhand today in order to inaugurate the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor project, which is worth approximately ₹18,000 crore according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office. A slew of other projects will also be inaugurated during the visit.

The Prime Minister is also expected to hold a rally in the Parade Ground at Dehradun in view of the upcoming assembly elections.

According to the PMO statement, the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor will stretch from the Eastern Peripheral Expressway Junction to Dehradun and will be built at a cost of around ₹8,300 crore. The project is also aimed at streamlining travel to and from the national capital to Uttarakhand, as it will cut travel time from 6 hours to 2.5 according to reports.

Reduction of logistics costs and seamless connectivity with regions in the state such as Haridwar, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, Yamunanagar, Baghpat, Meerut and Baraut have also been touted as benefits. The construction of the Delhi-Dehradun corridor is also expected to give impetus to the development of tourism, especially in Haridwar, a popular pilgrimage site.

The Corridor will also have Asia's largest wildlife elevated corridor (12 km) for unrestricted wildlife movement, and will also feature a 340-metre long tunnel near Dat Kaali temple in order to reduce the impact on wildlife, the statement said. Rainwater harvesting will also be inntegrated into the project, at intervals of 500 meters with over 400 water recharge points.

At least 7 other development projects will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister today, and he is also expected to lay the foundation stone for 10 more. The projects are mainly aimed at improving road transport to the mountainous state and making travel easier.