By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 3 Apr: Finally, the much awaited Delhi-Dehradun Greenfield Expressway is going to be inaugurated soon after a long delay in the completion of the project. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Dehradun on 14 April to inaugurate the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway. Speaking informally with some media persons on the sidelines of an event held in Dehradun, today, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed that preparations are
underway for the PM’s visit, though he did not reveal the probable date. Dhami however indicated that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is also likely to be present on the occasion as the Expressway passes through UP and it is an inter-state project of strategic importance. It is being seen as a significant development-oriented tour, during which the Prime Minister is expected to inaugurate the much-awaited Delhi–Dehradun Greenfield Expressway.
According to information available so far, the Prime Minister is expected to reach by helicopter and land at Ganeshpur village in Saharanpur district of neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, which adjoins Dehradun district in Uttarakhand. From there, he is scheduled to inaugurate the elevated stretch of the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway, a flagship infrastructure project aimed at significantly reducing travel time between the national capital and Dehradun while improving regional connectivity and economic integration. Following the inauguration, the Prime Minister is likely to travel via the expressway route to Dehradun, where he will address a large public gathering at Mahinder Ground here.
Sources in the state administration say that the administrative and security preparations for the visit have gathered pace at both the state and district levels, with officials working on logistics, crowd management and coordination between Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh authorities. The likely public meeting in Dehradun is expected to serve as a platform for the PM to highlight ongoing and upcoming development initiatives for Uttarakhand, very much in line with previous visits where major infrastructure, connectivity and tourism-related projects have been announced or inaugurated.
Meanwhile, CM Dhami observed that the proposed visit has generated considerable enthusiasm among the people of Uttarakhand, who are keenly awaiting Modi’s arrival and the dedication of key development projects to the state. Dhami also stressed that the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway is expected to be a transformative project, boosting tourism, facilitating smoother movement of goods and passengers, and enhancing economic prospects for the region. The project, which has been widely covered in national media, is also being seen as part of the Centre’s broader push towards high-speed corridors and modern transport infrastructure across the country.
Dhami further reminded that PM Modi shares a deep emotional and spiritual connection with Uttarakhand and has consistently prioritised the state in terms of development initiatives since assuming office. He noted that several key projects, including road connectivity in border areas, all-weather access along the Char Dham routes and the promotion of tourism in remote regions, have received renewed impetus under the PM’s leadership. The CM also recalled that the PM had also had visited frontier and remote locations in Uttarakhand which had previously remained outside the ambit of high-level political attention and that his visits had brought them into the national development discourse and focus.
Dhami reminded that the PM, during one of his visits to the state had described Mana village, traditionally known as the country’s last village, as the first village of India, a move aimed at changing perceptions and encouraging development in border regions. He also mentioned Modi’s visit to Harsil in district Uttarkashi, which is considered the maternal home of the Ganga and added that following the visit, efforts have been made to promote winter tourism and diversify the state’s tourism calendar beyond the peak pilgrimage season.
The CM added that the PM has, on multiple occasions, stood with the people of Uttarakhand during times of crisis, including natural disasters, providing not only administrative support but also moral encouragement. With the proposed inauguration of the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway and the expected public outreach in Dehradun, the visit is likely to carry both developmental and political significance.
