The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has approved the construction of a 42 km highway connecting Dehradun and Mussoorie, aimed at reducing travel time from up to 90 minutes to just 30 minutes.

Estimated at Rs 3,500 crore, the project will begin at Jhajhra in Dehradun and end at Gandhi Chowk in Mussoorie, providing a more efficient route compared to the existing 34 km hill road that often gets congested with tourist traffic. A key feature of the project is the construction of two tunnels to navigate the challenging Himalayan terrain. One tunnel, measuring 2.9 km, will pass beneath the George Everest peak, while a second two km tunnel will be built ahead of the Everest House stretch.

These tunnels are designed to bypass steep gradients, sharp turns, and landslide-prone areas, significantly improving the flow of traffic.