The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a ₹6,969.67 crore 6-lane tunnel project connecting the Dwarka Expressway with Nelson Mandela Marg in Vasant Kunj, Delhi. The 8.1-km project will improve connectivity between west and south Delhi, reduce traffic congestion, enhance access to IGI Airport, and generate over 17 lakh person-days of employment.
Key Highlights
- CCEA approves ₹6,969.67 crore 6-lane tunnel project under Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM).
- The 8.1-km corridor will connect Dwarka Expressway with Nelson Mandela Marg in Vasant Kunj.
- Twin-tube underground tunnel will pass beneath the Southern Ridge, minimizing environmental impact.
- The project is expected to generate over 17 lakh person-days of direct and indirect employment.
New Delhi, July 01: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of a 6-lane tunnel project on NH-148AE to connect the Dwarka Expressway with Nelson Mandela Marg in Vasant Kunj, Delhi, at a total capital cost of ₹6,969.67 crore under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM).
The 8.1-km infrastructure project is aimed at significantly improving connectivity between west Delhi and south Delhi, while providing faster travel for commuters from Gurugram, Dwarka, Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, West Delhi, Vasant Kunj, Noida, Ghaziabad, and East Delhi.
The project features a state-of-the-art underground twin-tube tunnel, designed to minimize surface-level disruption and preserve the environmentally sensitive Southern Ridge Forest. Around 1.98 km of the tunnel will pass beneath the Ridge using Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) technology, ensuring minimal ecological impact.
According to the Cabinet statement, the tunnel will originate from the Shivmurti Interchange and terminate before the intersection of Nelson Mandela Marg and Mahipalpur-Chhatarpur Road. The project also includes a 1.8-km elevated corridor along Nelson Mandela Marg to ease congestion at the busy intersection.
Additionally, a new flyover from Chhatarpur towards Mahipalpur will be constructed alongside the existing flyover, while an elevated U-turn has also been planned to facilitate smoother right-turn traffic towards Chhatarpur, further improving traffic flow in south Delhi.
The total 8.1-km project comprises 6.3 km of the main carriageway, including 3.14 km of twin-tube tunnel, 0.98 km of tunnel approach ramps, 0.554 km of retaining wall approaches, 2.556 km of elevated corridor, and 0.870 km of at-grade roadway.
The project is expected to transform Delhi’s urban transport network by creating a seamless high-speed corridor linking the Dwarka Expressway, Barapullah Elevated Road, and key arterial roads. The proposed connection between the tunnel and the Barapullah elevated corridor will provide uninterrupted connectivity between West Delhi, South Delhi, East Delhi, Noida, and Ghaziabad, while improving access to IGI Airport.
Beyond improving mobility, the project is also expected to provide a major boost to employment. According to government estimates, every lane-kilometre of a National Highway generates around 264 person-days of direct employment and 55 person-days of indirect employment. Based on these estimates, the project is expected to generate approximately 7.54 lakh person-days of direct employment and 9.80 lakh person-days of indirect employment, in addition to creating further economic opportunities through increased commercial activity along the corridor.
The project forms part of the Government of India’s broader strategy to modernize urban transport infrastructure, reduce congestion, improve travel efficiency, and support sustainable economic growth in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Conclusion
The approval of the ₹6,969.67 crore Dwarka Expressway–Nelson Mandela Marg tunnel project marks a significant milestone in Delhi’s infrastructure development. By combining advanced tunnel engineering, environmental conservation, and enhanced road connectivity, the project will reduce travel time, ease congestion, improve airport access, and strengthen transportation links across Delhi and the NCR while generating substantial employment opportunities.
