Good news for Delhi commuters: Cabinet approves Rs 6,970 crore tunnel linking Dwarka Expressway to Vasant Kunj

Delhi commuters are set for a major travel upgrade as the Centre has approved a Rs 6,970 crore tunnel linking Dwarka Expressway with Vasant Kunj. The project is expected to ease traffic congestion, improve connectivity with IGI Airport and significantly reduce travel time between West and South Delhi.

Delhi commuters may soon spend less time stuck in traffic as the Centre has approved a major underground road project connecting Dwarka Expressway (NH-248BB) with Nelson Mandela Marg in Vasant Kunj. The Rs 6,969.67 crore project includes a six-lane underground tunnel, elevated roads, flyovers and other infrastructure upgrades aimed at making travel faster and smoother for commuters travelling from Dwarka, Gurugram, IGI Airport and West Delhi towards South Delhi.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the project under the National Highways (Original) Scheme. Apart from the Delhi tunnel, the Cabinet also approved a Rs 7,145.14 crore Kanpur-Kabrai Access-Controlled Greenfield Highway in Uttar Pradesh, taking the combined value of the two infrastructure projects to more than Rs 14,100 crore.

Rs 6,970 crore tunnel to transform Delhi connectivity

The 8.1-km project will provide faster connectivity between West Delhi and South Delhi, while improving travel for commuters from Gurugram, Dwarka, IGI Airport and West Delhi heading towards Vasant Kunj. The government expects the tunnel to reduce congestion at major bottlenecks such as Mahipalpur and Rangpuri, while improving overall traffic flow across the corridor.

The project is also expected to provide a faster, signal-free route between Dwarka Expressway and South Delhi, reducing delays on some of the capital's busiest roads.

What the Rs 6,970 crore tunnel project includes

The project includes:

• 8.1-km total project length
• 3.14-km underground twin-tube tunnel
• 1.8-km elevated corridor along Nelson Mandela Marg
• Additional flyover from Chhatarpur towards Mahipalpur
• Elevated U-turn to improve traffic movement
• Six-lane signal-free connectivity between Dwarka Expressway and Vasant Kunj

The tunnel will start from the Shiv Murti Interchange on Dwarka Expressway and terminate before the junction of Nelson Mandela Marg and Mahipalpur-Chhatarpur Road.

Tunnel to improve airport access while protecting Southern Ridge

Around 1.98 km of the tunnel will pass beneath the Southern Ridge using Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) technology. The underground alignment has been designed to minimise surface disruption while preserving the ecologically sensitive Ridge forest.

The project is expected to improve access to Indira Gandhi International Airport for commuters travelling from Dwarka, Gurugram and West Delhi, while reducing congestion around Mahipalpur, Rangpuri and nearby intersections.

The government has also proposed an AIIMS-Mahipalpur Elevated Corridor, which will connect the tunnel with the Barapullah elevated road. Once completed, the integrated network is expected to strengthen connectivity between West Delhi, South Delhi, East Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad.

Delhi tunnel project to create over 17 lakh person-days of employment

Besides improving connectivity, the project is expected to create substantial employment during construction. According to the government, the project will generate nearly:

• 7.54 lakh person-days of direct employment
• 9.80 lakh person-days of indirect employment

The tunnel is also expected to boost economic activity in surrounding areas after completion.

Cabinet also approves Rs 7,145 crore Kanpur-Kabrai highway

Apart from the Delhi tunnel, the Cabinet has approved the construction of the 117.7-km Kanpur-Kabrai Access-Controlled Greenfield Highway in Uttar Pradesh.

The project, estimated to cost Rs 7,145.14 crore, forms part of the Bhopal-Kanpur Economic Corridor and will be developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Toll model. The four-lane highway has also been designed for future expansion to six lanes.

Kanpur-Kabrai highway to cut travel time, boost regional growth

Designed for operating speeds of 80-100 kmph, the new highway will reduce travel time between Kanpur and Kabrai from around 3.5 hours to just 1.5 hours, cutting the journey by nearly 58 per cent.

The corridor will strengthen connectivity with NH-34, NH-35, the Bundelkhand Expressway, Kanpur Ring Road, several state highways, industrial areas, logistics hubs and the Kabrai mining belt.

According to the government, the highway will improve freight movement, reduce logistics costs and support industrial, mining and agricultural activities across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

The project is expected to generate nearly 1.2 crore person-days of direct and indirect employment during construction. It is also projected to carry around 18,069 Passenger Car Units (PCUs) daily by FY2028, highlighting its long-term importance for regional connectivity and economic growth.