Rs 7000 crore tunnel project to connect Vasant Kunj with Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway
The Union Cabinet is expected to soon approve a proposed Rs 7,000-crore infrastructure project featuring a six-lane tunnel connecting Nelson Mandela Marg in Vasant Kunj with the Shiv Murti interchange on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway. The project, which has been under consideration by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for more than five years, aims to ease heavy traffic congestion on the Mahipalpur stretch and reduce travel times to Gurgaon, south Delhi, and the airport.
According to the NHAI, the six-lane tunnel will create a faster, signal-free route between south and west Delhi. It will also link the Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) and the Dwarka Expressway with Vasant Kunj, providing seamless connectivity for commuters travelling between these major corridors.
In addition to the tunnel, the massive infrastructure plan features several key components designed to resolve traffic bottlenecks. A two-lane flyover is planned for vehicles travelling from Chhatarpur towards Mahipalpur, running parallel to the existing elevated stretch. An elevated U-turn will also be constructed for vehicles exiting the tunnel and heading towards Chhatarpur.
Further integration includes a proposed six-lane elevated corridor extending beyond the tunnel exit on the Nelson Mandela Marg side. This corridor is designed to cross the Mahipalpur-Chhatarpur intersection near the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) office, pass over the B and C Block junction in Vasant Kunj, and terminate near Ambience Mall.
NHAI officials estimate that the construction of the tunnel will take approximately five years to complete once approved. The project will require a customized tunnel boring machine measuring about 13 metres by 6 metres. Manufacturing and delivering this specialized machine alone is expected to take around 18 months, while the actual tunnel construction will take about 3.5 years.
Additionally, plans are being finalised for another six-lane elevated corridor to connect AIIMS, where the Barapulla elevated road ends, to Nelson Mandela Road. This proposed network, combined with the tunnel project, aims to improve overall connectivity towards AIIMS, Sarai Kale Khan, East Delhi, and adjoining corridors.
