India’s Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given the go-ahead for a new six-lane road tunnel in Delhi.
The 3.14km Dwarka Road Tunnel will be a key section of an 8.1km-long project to connect the Shiv Murti Interchange on the Dwarka Expressway with Nelson Mandela Marg in Vasant Kunj. A 1.98km section of the twin-tube tunnel will pass beneath the Southern Ridge, one of Delhi’s most ecologically sensitive landscapes.
The Dwarka Tunnel Corridor will provide a direct, uninterrupted connection between the Dwarka Expressway and South Delhi, providing an alternative to heavily congested routes.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) project will also improve connection between Delhi and Gurugram, providing better access to key residential areas, commercial centres, institutional hubs and the Indira Gandhi International Airport. NHAI’s proposed AIIMS–Mahipalpur Elevated Corridor will connect the tunnel to the Barapullah Elevated Road.
For visitors to Delhi, the Dwarka Tunnel Corridor will improve access from the airport and the Dwarka Expressway to several of the capital’s iconic destinations, including Qutub Minar, Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Hauz Khas Heritage Complex, Humayun’s Tomb, Lodhi Garden and Chhatarpur Temple. It will also provide easier access to venues that host international conferences, exhibitions and cultural events.
