New Delhi, April 13 (IANS) On the eve of inaugurating the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor on Tuesday afternoon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted its wildlife-friendly feature and time-saving aspects.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, “I will be in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand tomorrow, 14th April. It is a matter of immense joy that the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor will be inaugurated at a programme in Dehradun.”

This Corridor will significantly reduce travel time between Delhi and Dehradun and benefit the people of Delhi NCR, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, he said.

The PM said, “One of the salient features of this corridor is the emphasis on ensuring that man-animal conflict does not occur. That is why there is a 12 km long wildlife elevated corridor, one of the longest in Asia.”

Ahead of the inauguration event, PM Modi will inspect the wildlife corridor at Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh and offer prayers at a Kali temple in Uttarakhand, an official said.

At around 11.40 a.m., PM Modi will perform Darshan and Pooja at Jai Maa Daat Kali Temple near Dehradun. Thereafter, at around 12.30 p.m., he will inaugurate the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor at a public function in Dehradun and address the gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister’s Office said in the statement.

The 213 km long six-lane access-controlled Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor has been developed at a cost of over Rs 12,000 crore.

The corridor traverses through the states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and will reduce travel time between Delhi and Dehradun from over six hours at present to around two and a half hours, said the statement.

The implementation of the project also includes the construction of 10 interchanges, three Railway Over Bridges (ROBs), four major bridges and 12 wayside amenities to enable seamless high-speed connectivity.

The corridor is equipped with an Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) to provide a safer and more efficient travel experience for commuters, said the statement.

Keeping in view the ecological sensitivity, rich biodiversity and wildlife in the region, the corridor has been designed with several features aimed at significantly reducing man-animal conflict, it said.

To ensure the free movement of wild animals, the project incorporates several dedicated wildlife protection features. These include a 12 km-long wildlife elevated corridor, which is one of the longest in Asia.

The corridor also includes eight animal passes, two elephant underpasses of 200 metres each, and a 370-metre-long tunnel near the Daat Kali temple, said the statement.

The Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor will play a pivotal role in strengthening regional economic growth by enhancing connectivity between major tourism and economic centres as well as opening new avenues for trade and development across the region.

The project reflects the vision of PM Modi to develop next-generation infrastructure that combines high-speed connectivity with environmental sustainability and improved quality of life for citizens, said the statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

–IANS

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