Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, a significant infrastructure development costing around ₹12,000 crore (roughly $1.45 billion USD). This six-lane, access-controlled highway is designed to cut travel time between Delhi and Dehradun to about 2.5 hours, reducing the distance by 37 kilometers. The expressway is expected to boost tourism in Uttarakhand, facilitating access to popular destinations such as Haridwar, Rishikesh, and the Char Dham circuit. Additionally, it aims to lower logistics costs by 15-20% and alleviate congestion on existing routes. The project also features a 12-kilometer elevated section that serves as a wildlife corridor, successfully allowing safe passage for various animal species. Union Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari noted that the government has initiated infrastructure projects worth over ₹1.3 trillion in Uttarakhand, with around ₹80,000 crore in projects awaiting approval. This expressway is part of a broader strategy to enhance connectivity between key industrial hubs in India.