Delhi now 2.5 hours away with inauguration of Delhi- Dehradun Economic Corridor by PM Modi
PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
In a major gift to the people of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 213 kilometre long Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor (DDEC) on Tuesday.
Addressing the gathering at Jaswant Ground on the occasion, the PM recalled that during his last Kedarnath visit, a sudden reflection came to him that the third decade of the century will belong to Uttarakhand. He expressed happiness at the fact that the young State is making big strides on the development front. “This expressway will give fresh momentum to Uttarakhand’s growth,” he said.
The PM averred that the roads, highways, expressways, airways, railways and waterways projects are the fate lines of the country. He claimed that while in the year 2014, a sum of only Rs two lakh crore was spent on infrastructure projects, it has increased to more than Rs 12 lakh crore in 2026. He said that the DDEC is set to significantly reduce travel time and costs for commuters, leading to substantial fuel savings and lower freight charges. “With an investment of Rs 12,000 crore already infused into construction, the project has emerged as a major employment engine, providing livelihoods to thousands of engineers, labourers and other workers. This is not just a road, it opens new avenues for trade, industry, warehousing, and logistics across the entire region,’’ Modi said. He added that the corridor will boost tourism in Uttarakhand. The PM said that Uttarakhand is increasingly becoming a premier destination for winter tourism, winter sports and destination weddings. Noting the importance of year-round tourism for Uttarakhand’s economy, he said that winter Yatra has seen a surge in pilgrim footfall in Adi Kailash and Om Parvat area. “When tourism grows, everyone benefits, hotels, dhabas, taxis, home stays, the entire local economy gets a boost,” he said.
Stressing the government’s commitment to strike a balance among development, environment and culture, the PM said that the construction of a nearly 12-kilometre elevated wildlife corridor as part of the expressway, designed to ensure that wild animals face no disruption in movement.
He appealed to the people visiting Uttarakhand to keep the Char Dhams and other places clean and free of plastic waste. The PM also exhorted all stakeholders to ensure that the Kumbh-2027 in Haridwar is grand, divine and clean. He said that the Nanda Devi Rajjat Yatra is a living example of India’s cultural consciousness where Goddess Nanda is revered as a daughter.
In his address, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that PM Modi encouraged everyone when from Kedarnath he said that the third decade of the 21st century will be the decade of Uttarakhand. The PM visited the border village Mana and declared it the first village of the country. He said that every visit of the PM brings in a new wave of development and happiness for Uttarakhand. The governor of Uttarakhand lieutenant general (retd) Gurmit Singh, Union minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, Union MoS Ajay Tamta, BJP state president Mahendra Bhatt, Vidhan Sabha speaker Ritu Khanduri, former chief ministers Vijay Bahuguna, Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank, Trivendra Singh Rawat, cabinet ministers and Members of Parliament from the State were also present.
