Centre Approves Rs 14,115-Crore Tunnel and Highway Projects for Delhi-NCR and Uttar Pradesh

The Union Cabinet has approved two major road projects with a combined cost of nearly Rs 14,115 crore. The first is an 8.1-km six-lane tunnel connecting Dwarka Expressway with Nelson Mandela Marg in South Delhi. The second is a 117.7-km access-controlled greenfield highway between Kanpur and Kabrai in Uttar Pradesh. These projects aim to reduce travel time, improve logistics, and create economic opportunities in Delhi-NCR and Bundelkhand.

The six-lane tunnel, estimated at Rs 6,969.67 crore, will be built under the Hybrid Annuity Model. It will provide uninterrupted connectivity between Dwarka Expressway, IGI Airport, Dwarka, Vasant Kunj, and South Delhi. It will also link with the upcoming AIIMS Mahipalpur elevated corridor, improving access to Noida, Ghaziabad, and East Delhi. The government estimates the project will generate about 7.54 lakh man-days of direct employment and 9.8 lakh man-days of indirect employment during construction.

The Kanpur-Kabrai greenfield highway, costing Rs 7,145.14 crore, will form part of the Bhopal-Kanpur Economic Corridor. It will connect industrial centres in Uttar Pradesh with manufacturing, mining, and agricultural regions of Madhya Pradesh, linking NH-34, NH-35, Bundelkhand Expressway, and Kanpur Ring Road. Travel time between Kanpur and Kabrai is expected to reduce from about three-and-a-half hours to nearly 90 minutes.

Real estate developers have expressed optimism about the projects. Mohit Goel, Managing Director of Omaxe Ltd, said the tunnel would significantly improve accessibility and strengthen housing demand, property prices, and rental prospects. Pawan Sharma, Managing Director of TRG Group, noted that such projects often become foundations for broader economic development. However, these views represent industry perspectives and are not government projections.