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New Delhi: The Delhi–Dehradun Expressway, one of India’s most eagerly awaited infrastructure projects, has once again grabbed attention—this time for an unfortunate reason.
Just two days after trial runs began on a newly opened stretch, iron rods and divider barriers installed for safety have been stolen. The incident has left commuters, local residents, and officials shocked, especially at a time when the expressway is nearing its formal opening.
Video shows empty gaps along the divider
A commuter travelling on the route posted a video on social media, showing long empty gaps along the central divider where iron rods were supposed to be fixed. He expressed deep disappointment over how public property is being vandalized even before the expressway becomes fully operational. In the video, he questioned the civic sense of people and their lack of responsibility toward the nation’s development projects. The video has since gone viral, prompting widespread criticism over the repeated thefts.
The exact location of the theft is not clear from the video, but the commuter mention that he is close to Delhi. According to an NHAI official, the theft may have happened in the Uttar Pradesh/ Delhi part of the expressway. The section near Dehradun and the elevated corridor do not have barriers installed yet, so the theft could not have occurred there.
Expressway is expected to cut short the travel time
The Delhi–Dehradun Expressway is expected to cut the travel time between the national capital and Dehradun to just three hours. This has generated excitement among people, especially those who frequently travel between the two cities for work, tourism, or business. However, incidents such as theft and vandalism on the stretch have raised concerns about the safety and durability of the project.
Earlier incidents of theft from construction sites
This is not the first time theft has been reported from the expressway construction sites. Earlier, workers and contractors had complained about missing construction materials—including metal bars, fencing material, and equipment on the construction sites. Authorities had taken note of these cases, but the problem appears to persist.
Full security deployment only after the expressway is officially opened for traffic
Officials associated with the project say that the stretch is still in a trial phase and full security deployment will be completed only after the expressway is officially opened for traffic. They also believe that the exposed materials and lack of constant surveillance may be contributing to such incidents. The theft of iron rods, however, is a serious safety concern, as these rods are crucial for maintaining lane discipline and preventing vehicles from drifting into opposite lanes.
Some parts of the expressway are already opened
The Delhi-Saharanpur-Dehradun Expressway is a major highway project that will make travel much faster between Delhi, western Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. A 32 km section is almost ready, and officials plan to open it between late December and early January.
Some parts of the expressway near Geeta Colony, Seelampur and Shahdara are already open for trial runs. Barriers have been removed, and vehicles are using the road, showing that the full public launch of the expressway may happen very soon.
