Highway collapse spurs concerns over Delhi-Dehradun expressway project

A portion of the Delhi-Dehradun highway collapsed near the Daatkali tunnel due to a landslide, intensifying doubts about the feasibility of the ambitious 180-km Delhi-Dehradun expressway project. This incident disrupted traffic on both sides of the road, prompting renewed questions about the suitability of constructing an elevated corridor on a delicate terrain.

Environmentalists, highlighting the sensitivity of the Shivalik ecosystem in the area, had previously raised concerns about the new expressway project, particularly its 12-km elevated stretch. Despite the potential time-saving benefits of the expressway, experts have expressed worries about the ecological impact and carrying capacity of the region due to extensive infrastructure development.

The recent collapse has further underscored these concerns and prompted calls for a re-evaluation of the expressway project, which runs parallel to the existing highway. The incident has raised questions about the quality of the ongoing work on the Rs 12,000 crore project. Dehradun-based environmentalists have pointed out that the construction of the new expressway has even caused damage to the existing highway.