With preparations for the 2027 Ardh Kumbh underway, travel from Delhi to Haridwar is set to become much easier. The 51-kilometer-long ‘Spur-2’ Haridwar corridor is in its final stages of construction and is expected to be completed by November.
Vehicles will begin plying this route starting in December, making travel more convenient for commuters arriving from Delhi-NCR.
Optimism surrounding the project has also been bolstered by statements made by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, at an event on Tuesday. He highlighted efforts to improve connectivity between Delhi and Haridwar, noting that a new route is set to open next month.
This route, which connects to the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor, is considered vital for managing traffic flow toward Haridwar and the Char Dham Yatra.
According to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), over 99 percent of the construction on the 51-kilometer, six-lane, access-controlled ‘Spur-2’ Haridwar corridor is complete. Work remains on a small section near the Bahadarabad toll plaza, which is also expected to be finished soon. The corridor begins at Halgoya Mustakam in Saharanpur and passes through Bhagwanpur, Saliyar, and Kaliyar, eventually connecting to the existing National Highway-58 near Bahadarabad via Bhaderi Rajputana. Referring to the Delhi-Dehradun corridor, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari noted that it has significantly reduced travel time between the two cities; in the same vein, the plan to improve connectivity to Haridwar is a significant step forward.
Helping to ease traffic pressure
During the Ardh Kumbh, a large number of pilgrims from Delhi, Western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and other states are expected to arrive in Haridwar. Furthermore, many people from the Delhi-NCR region frequently visit Haridwar throughout the year for various ritual bathing festivals; the opening of the ‘Spur-2’ Haridwar corridor will greatly facilitate their travel. Benefits for Businesses Too
The advantages of the new route will extend well beyond the Ardh Kumbh. Tourists arriving from Delhi-NCR and pilgrims heading to the Char Dham are expected to reach Haridwar in less than two and a half hours.
This is likely to benefit businesses in Haridwar—including hotels, guesthouses, transport services, food and beverage establishments, and local markets—by facilitating easier movement for tourists. Furthermore, improved traffic management will make commuting more convenient for local residents and for freight vehicles traveling to and from the SIDCUL industrial area.
More than 99 percent of the construction work on the spur-to-Haridwar corridor is complete. Efforts are underway to expedite the remaining tasks, with the goal of opening the route to traffic by December. Once operational, it will provide an alternative route for vehicles traveling between Delhi and Haridwar, with a travel time of approximately two and a half hours. — Puneet Garg, Project Director, NHAI (Roorkee Section)
