Delhi’s Rs 6,970 crore tunnel approved; Will it finally end airport traffic jams?

Delhi is set to get an 8.1-km underground tunnel connecting Dwarka Expressway with Vasant Kunj and AIIMS. The Rs 6,970 crore project aims to reduce congestion near the airport and major traffic bottlenecks.

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has approved the construction of an 8.1-kilometre six-lane tunnel in Delhi aimed at reducing traffic congestion between the airport area, South Delhi and surrounding regions.

The tunnel will be built on NH-148AE, connecting the Shiv Murti interchange near Dwarka Expressway and Indira Gandhi International Airport with Nelson Mandela Marg in Vasant Kunj. The route will further provide smoother connectivity towards AIIMS and other parts of South Delhi.

Officials said the project is expected to be completed within five years at an estimated cost of Rs 6,970 crore.

Tunnel to Pass Beneath Southern Ridge

A major feature of the project will be a 3.1-km underground section passing beneath the Southern Ridge forest area.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the ridge area would not be disturbed as the tunnel will be constructed below it. He described the project as an important new transport route for Delhi.

The government has completed a detailed geological study and environmental impact assessment before approving the construction.

Traffic Relief for Airport and South Delhi Routes

Officials said the existing Mahipalpur-Vasant Kunj road is already heavily congested and has limited scope for expansion.

The new tunnel is expected to reduce pressure on key traffic points, including the Dhaula Kuan-IGI Airport corridor, Chhatarpur-Mahipalpur route and Rangpuri bottleneck.

Vehicles travelling from Gurgaon, Dwarka, IGI Airport and West Delhi towards South Delhi are expected to benefit from smoother movement.

The project is estimated to support around 37,000 passenger car units daily after completion.

Project to Use Advanced Tunnel Technology

The tunnel will be constructed using advanced tunnelling methods, including tunnel-boring machines. Officials compared the technology with methods planned for major underground transport projects.

Cabinet Also Clears Kanpur-Kabrai Highway

Apart from the Delhi tunnel, the Cabinet approved a 242-km four-lane highway connecting Kanpur with Kabrai in Uttar Pradesh’s Mahoba district.

The Rs 7,145 crore highway, part of the Kanpur-Bhopal economic corridor, is expected to reduce travel time from around three and a half hours to nearly one and a half hours.

Officials said the highway will improve connectivity in Kanpur, Hamirpur and Mahoba while supporting economic activity in the Bundelkhand region.