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Haridwar: The opening of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway has brought convenience for travelers but a crisis for Haridwar’s traditional tourism and hospitality industry.

Once a bustling stopover for pilgrims and tourists, Haridwar’s hotels, dhabas, and travel businesses are now facing sharp declines.

Hotels lying vacant

Out of nearly 1,200 hotels in Haridwar, about 40% (480 hotels) are lying vacant. Advance bookings have stopped, and new inquiries are rare. Hotel operators say they are struggling to pay electricity bills and staff salaries. Kuldeep Sharma, budget chairman of the Hotel Association, admitted that the situation has become extremely difficult.

Travel business collapse

The Haridwar Travel Association reported a 60% decline in business. Last year, during the start of the Char Dham Yatra, 600–700 vehicles left Haridwar daily. This year, the number has dropped to 250–300. With 2,500 taxi and tempo travellers registered, most are now parked idle in stands. More than 225 travel agents are struggling to cover staff expenses.

Sumit Shrikunj, former general secretary of the Travel Association, said that while inquiries are coming for the last week of May, bookings remain uncertain.

Dhabas deserted

The Haridwar highway, once crowded with vehicles from Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana, is now quiet. Dhaba owners complain of deserted eateries and falling income. The number of outside vehicles on the Rishikesh-Meerut route has halved, leaving roadside businesses in crisis.

Changing travel behavior

Travelers are now choosing to bypass Haridwar to save time. Earlier, many stopped for a dip in the Ganga before continuing their journey. Now, they head directly to Dehradun and Rishikesh. Volvo buses from Rishikesh to Delhi cost around Rs 750 and take 5 hours, but travelers prefer catching buses at Dehradun ISBT, saving an hour thanks to the expressway.

Anjali Sharma, Assistant General Manager of the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation, confirmed that the branding and benefits of the expressway have increased tourist interest in Dehradun.

The expressway advantage

The 213-km Delhi-Dehradun Expressway begins at Akshardham in Delhi and passes through Baghpat, Shamli, and Saharanpur to Asharodi in Dehradun. It has reduced travel time from 6 hours to just 2.5 hours.

The expressway also features Asia’s longest elevated wildlife corridor (12 km) over Rajaji National Park and the 2.32 km Dot Kali twin tunnel near Dehradun. The one-way toll for cars is about Rs 675.

Hotels, dhabas, and travel agents are struggling to survive

While the expressway is a marvel of engineering and a boon for travelers, it has left Haridwar’s tourism and hospitality sector in deep crisis. Hotels, dhabas, and travel agents are struggling to survive as the city is bypassed in the race for speed.