NHAI clears 42-km Doon–Mussoorie highway which will cut travel time to 30 minutes, experts raise concerns

Dehradun/Mussoorie: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has approved the construction of a new 42km highway between Dehradun and Mussoorie, a project which officials said will reduce travel time between the two towns to around 30 minutes. The road journey from Dehradun to Mussoorie spans about 34km and typically takes 90 minutes or more, especially with tourist traffic.The two-lane highway, estimated to cost Rs 3,500 crore, will originate at Jhajhra in Dehradun and connect to Gandhi Chowk in Mussoorie. A key feature of the project is the inclusion of two tunnels designed to ease travel through the mountainous terrain. One tunnel, proposed beneath the George Everest peak, will be 2.9km long, while another 2km tunnel is planned ahead of the Everest House area. These tunnels will allow vehicles to pass directly through the hills, bypassing sharp curves, steep gradients and landslide-prone stretches, officials said.
NHAI deputy general manager Saurabh Singh said that following approval of the alignment, a Detailed Project Report (DPR) would be prepared. He added, "Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology has been asked to conduct a geological study of the route." The institute will assess soil and rock structures to ensure there are no landslide risks during or after construction. Singh added that the two tunnels would play a crucial role in ensuring smooth traffic flow on the stretch.Tourist traffic to Mussoorie has grown sharply over the years. Visitor numbers have risen from around 8.5 lakh in 2000 to more than 21 lakh in 2025, nearly tripling since the formation of Uttarakhand. During peak tourist seasons, most vehicles use the Dehradun–Mussoorie road to reach the hill town, resulting in prolonged traffic congestion along the route, particularly at the entry and exit points of both cities.Mussoorie recorded its highest tourist footfall in 2019, with 30.2 lakh visitors, including over 30 lakh domestic tourists and 1,025 foreign nationals. The figures stood at 27.9 lakh in 2017 and 28.7 lakh in 2018. Tourist numbers dropped sharply during the Covid period, with 12.2 lakh visitors in 2021 and 11.7 lakh in 2022, before rising again to 14.7 lakh in 2023 and 21.3 lakh in 2024, according to official data.With the Dehradun–Delhi expressway expected to open in the near future, authorities anticipate a higher inflow of vehicles from the national capital and other regions. A large share of this traffic is also expected to head towards Mussoorie, potentially worsening congestion on Rajpur Road and Mussoorie Road."Once the highway is constructed, visitors will not need to pass through Dehradun city and can instead travel directly towards Mussoorie via Jhajhra," Singh said.This project, like earlier proposals to construct tunnels around Mussoorie to ease traffic congestion, is facing strong opposition from environmentalists and local residents, who cited the hill town's fragile ecology and landslide-prone slopes. Environmentalist Vipin Gupta warned that the project could result in large-scale tree felling and environmental damage. "Tunnelling always results in environment destruction of unimaginable proportions including massive landslides. We will protest against the construction of this road if this project is not stopped by the govt," he added. Nidhi Bahuguna, a social activist, said Mussoorie's carrying capacity had been breached years ago due to increasing construction and swelling tourist crowds. Questioning whether the govt would be able to meaningfully enforce carrying-capacity norms, she warned, "With more tunnels and highways, Mussoorie might just end up being a transit stop, with tourists moving further inland in search of snow and cooler climes." Aalok Mehrotra, a local resident, said the govt should prioritise strengthening infrastructure in and around the town before building new roads. "Mussoorie is already bursting at the seams," he added.The project, however, has also found support from stakeholders in the tourism sector. Sanjay Aggarwal, president of the Mussoorie hotel association, called it a welcome move, saying it would significantly cut travel time for tourists. "Travel time between Delhi and Dehradun is expected to reduce to around two-and-a-half hours via the expressway, and the new highway would enable visitors to reach Mussoorie in about three hours," he added.