Union Cabinet Approves 8.1-km Six-Lane Tunnel to Decongest Delhi Traffic
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the construction of an 8.1-kilometre, six-lane tunnel on National Highway 148AE in New Delhi, aimed at easing congestion on key routes near the Indira Gandhi International Airport. The project, estimated to cost Rs 6,970 crore, will connect the Shiv Murti interchange on the Dwarka Expressway with Nelson Mandela Marg in Vasant Kunj, which provides access to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
Expected to be completed in five years, the tunnel will be developed under the hybrid annuity model, where the government shares part of the cost with a private partner who recovers investment through annuity payments over time. A 3.1-kilometre section of the tunnel will run beneath the southern ridge forest, requiring environmental clearances and mitigation measures.
The project aims to decongest the Dhaula Kuan-IGI Airport, Chhatarpur-Mahipalpur, and Rangpuri bottlenecks, improving travel times for commuters. Officials stated that the tunnel will provide a direct link between western Delhi and southern areas, reducing reliance on congested arterial roads.
The government expects the tunnel to enhance connectivity to the airport and AIIMS, while also supporting economic activity in the Dwarka and Vasant Kunj corridors. Detailed design and land acquisition processes will begin shortly, with construction slated to start within a year.
