Dehradun city is located in the southern part of Dehradun district between 78o00'E to 78o10'E and 30o15'N to 30o25'N. Dehradun is the intermittent capital of Uttranchal State and is also the district headquarters. Its strategic location at the foothills of the Himalayas has made it an important hill station in India, and helped it to emerge as the premier business and service centre within the region. A number of civil and defense institutions of national repute signify its importance in the country.

Approximately 2871.1ha is under the administrative control of the Dehradun Municipal Board, and the area is home to about 270,000 people. The major functions of Dehradun city are administrative, educational, commercial, defense and tourism.

The character of the city is changing from services to industry, and trade and commerce, and it is expanding its secondary and tertiary sectors in order to strengthen its economic base. The city's diversification from a uni-functional to multi-functional base has brought about many changes and attracted a large population from regional areas. This transition is putting additional strain on existing infrastructure, creating an urgent need to develop adequate infrastructure and services for the city.