The Union Cabinet has approved the construction of an 8.1-km six-lane road tunnel connecting the Dwarka Expressway (NH-248BB) with Nelson Mandela Marg in Vasant Kunj, Delhi, at an estimated cost of ₹6,969.67 crore. The project, cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), aims to significantly improve east-west connectivity, reduce travel time, and ease traffic congestion across the National Capital Region.
The project will be implemented under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) as part of the National Highways (Original) Programme. Of the total alignment, 3.14 km will pass underground beneath the ecologically sensitive Southern Ridge Forest using advanced Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) technology, ensuring minimal environmental impact and avoiding disturbance to the forest ecosystem.
In addition to the tunnel, the project includes a 1.8-km elevated road along Nelson Mandela Marg, a new flyover towards Mahipalpur, approach ramps, at-grade roads, and an elevated U-turn at the Mahipalpur–Chhatarpur junction to improve traffic flow. The corridor will also integrate with the proposed AIIMS–Mahipalpur elevated corridor, providing seamless connectivity to the Barapullah elevated road, East Delhi, Noida, and Ghaziabad.
Once completed, the tunnel will provide faster and signal-free connectivity between Gurugram, Dwarka, IGI Airport, West Delhi, and South Delhi, reducing congestion on key arterial roads while improving access to major residential, commercial, and institutional hubs. The project is expected to enhance urban mobility, lower vehicle operating costs, and improve logistics efficiency across the region.
The government estimates that the project will generate around 7.54 lakh person-days of direct employment and 9.8 lakh person-days of indirect employment during the construction phase. Scheduled for completion within five years, the tunnel is part of the Centre’s broader strategy to modernise urban transport infrastructure and strengthen connectivity across the National Capital Region.