NEW DELHI: The much-delayed completion of the Bhairon Marg underpass, a crucial part of the Pragati Maidan integrated transit corridor, has entered a critical phase. The Public Works Department is holding talks with Indian Railways for permission to resume construction.Underpass 5 could not be finished after two concrete boxes that formed the sub-surface passage sank due to waterlogging in 2023.Two lanes of the underpass is open to the public, but the three-lane carriageway has been stalled.Minister Parvesh Verma said on Thursday that PWD was discussing a working arrangement with Northern Railway that would temporarily halt train movement on the tracks running above the underpass section. PWD requires 25 days to achieve the tunnelling, broken into several time slots during which train traffic would need to be diverted.Officials said Northern Railway has asked for a detailed timeline of daily construction activities and mutually agreed work schedules are being negotiated. Verma said PWD has been instructed to prepare a day-by-day plan for each of the 25 days of work. Northern Railway, however, is concerned about possible revenue losses from the affected train operations and has, therefore, proposed a compensation mechanism.Verma is expected to meet the Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shortly to advance the discussions. “We hope to arrive at a consensus soon. The project is of great public importance,” Verma said.PWD has finalised a revised design for the underpass, following expert input from IIT Delhi. Given the ground-level complications and prior structural damage, the agency now plans to use the cast-in-situ method for tunnel construction. However, this method comes with limitations: the width of the underpass will be reduced from 11.5 metres to 6.25 metres and the height from 5.5 metres to 3.9 metres. As a result, only two lanes are feasible and the underpass will have to be restricted to light motor vehicles.The Union housing and urban affairs ministry’s recent approval allows PWD to begin grouting under the existing box structures to stabilise the soil and stitch the concrete boxes beneath the railway embankment to prevent further shifting.The main 1.3-km-long, six-lane tunnel, connecting Ring Road with India Gate in conjunction with four other underpasses, was completed and inaugurated in June 2022. The Bhairon Marg segment is the only portion left unfinished, delaying the full benefits of the integrated transit corridor.Officials estimate that the remaining work can be completed within eight months, once the Railways approvals are secured. Officials also said the project was delayed for years, but things have gathered pace under the new Delhi govt. Verma himself said, “Negotiations with Northern Railways are the last hurdle. And we will see them through soon.”
