New Delhi: In an unforeseen turn of events in the long-awaited Delhi–Saharanpur–Dehradun Expressway, this week, some commuters unofficially accessed a section of the under-construction route.
On Wednesday, when heavy rainfall, water logging, and massive traffic jams were reported in several parts of Delhi, two-wheeler riders diverted from congested roads and took the under-construction expressway.
As floodwaters gushed into Ring Road, choking key stretches, like Kashmiri Gate, Shanti Van, and Geeta Colony, many two-wheeler commuters sought alternative routes. Of them, some bikers removed the stone barricades near the Geeta Colony stretch to access the expressway. They continued riding on the under-construction route till Khajuri, removing more barricades along the way.
“The group of bikers removed the barricades and travelled all the way to Khajuri, then eventually reopened the barricades on that side to exit,” said the on-duty guard to ThePrint present at the spot.
The Delhi–Saharanpur–Dehradun Expressway, also known as NH 709B, is a 210-kilometre-long, 6/12-lane access-controlled expressway under development by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The project connects Delhi to Dehradun via Baghpat, Baraut, Shamli, and Saharanpur, passing through the states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
A video of the incident quickly went viral on social media, sparking varied reactions. Authorities expressed concerns over public safety, but many social media users hailed the move as a ‘public inauguration’.
“Public money is used for this expressway, and the public inaugurated it,” wrote one user on X.
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‘Public opening’
Speaking about the matter, a guard on duty explained that such incidents had become common during rush hours.
“A group of bikers started removing the barricades. It is difficult to stop them, and they ride on the under-construction expressway,” said Irfan Ansari, one of the guards stationed at the site Tuesday and Wednesday.
He further added that daily commuters, especially bikers, often use the stretch near Khajuri to bypass traffic, saving time.
After the incident came to light and continued to raise some noise on social media for the next three days, the traffic police, along with the Gandhinagar police, took action by placing double barricades and barbed wire along the stretch.
“The incident was concerning, as the expressway is still under construction and not officially open to the public,” said a senior officer at the Gandhinagar police station. “The situation occurred due to heavy traffic.”
The Delhi–Saharanpur–Dehradun Expressway is under development at an approximate cost of Rs 12,000 crore. Designed for a speed limit of 100 km/hr, the expressway aims to reduce travel time between Delhi and Dehradun from the current 6.5 to 2.5 hours. The expressway will feature a spur towards Haridwar and connect to the Char Dham Highway.
In May, Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways and Corporate Affairs, Harsh Malhotra, conducted an inspection of the entire 210-km stretch of the expressway, along with officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
During the visit, NHAI officials informed the minister that the remaining portions of the project are to be ready within the next two to three months. However, in a statement to ThePrint, an official revealed that several finishing tasks and pending work remain across different stretches of the expressway, which may take a few more months to complete.
“There is no specific finalised date for the completion of the work,” the official said.
Public access to incomplete sections of the expressway has raised safety concerns.
A resident of Gandhinagar and regular commuter reported that bikers often use the route by slipping through barricade gaps, especially when guards are absent.
“People have been using the route quite frequently, even though it’s not officially opened,” said Ishwar Chand, a resident of Gandhinagar.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)