New Delhi: Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta announced on Sunday that the national capital has started reaping the benefits of the double engine govt as the Centre has approved a 5-km tunnel. This tunnel is expected to balance the traffic between south Delhi and NCR.The tunnel, stretching from Shiv Murti–Mahipalpur (Dwarka expressway) to Nelson Mandela Road (Vasant Kunj), will reduce congestion on multiple routes and create a signal-free corridor.The CM said that after a recent meeting with Union minister Nitin Gadkari, several projects worth Rs 24,000 crore, aimed at streamlining traffic and reducing pollution in Delhi and its adjoining areas, were approved. Among them is the 5-kilometre tunnel, which will be constructed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) at an estimated cost of Rs 3,500 crore.The tunnel will have two underground tubes — one each for up and down traffic. Each tube will have three lanes. The tunnel will also have electro-mechanical systems, ventilation, fire safety, CCTV surveillance, control rooms, emergency exits and cross-passages.She said that the construction of the tunnel will significantly ease traffic congestion on Nelson Mandela Road (Vasant Kunj), Mahipalpur and Rangpuri. It will also reduce the traffic load on Dhaula Kuan, Rao Tula Ram Marg, and National Highway 48 in the Mahipalpur area.South Delhi MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said that the tunnel will be a blessing for people in the area as it will offer a direct, signal-free atlernative between south Delhi, Dwarka and Gurgaon. The tunnel is expected to help in eliminating traffic jams on NH-48 during peak hours.This tunnel will be a key connector between central/east Delhi and multiple major expressways and highways, including the Delhi Expressway (NE-5), NH-44, NH-10, Delhi-Jaipur Highway (NH-48), and Delhi-Dehradun Expressway (NH-709B) via the Urban Extension Road (UER) and Dwarka Expressway, Bidhuri said. This will lead to smoother traffic across these routes and a significant reduction in pollution levels, he added.The chief minister said that all technical and formal requirements for the project are in their final stages, and work is expected to start early next year. Calling this project the “foundation for the Delhi of the future,” Gupta said that the tunnel will give a new direction to Delhi’s infrastructure and bring relief to millions.“We are committed to making Delhi congestion-free and clean,” she said.The tunnel project ends at the upcoming intersection at Shiv Murti on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway. Officials said those heading towards Gurgaon can take the left turn to join the expressway, while others can seamlessly get on to the Dwarka Expressway to head towards Manesar or Chandigarh.
