Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on 25th July 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the development of an 8.1-km, six-lane Dwarka Road Tunnel (NH-148AE) at an estimated cost of ₹6,969.67 crore. To be implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the Hybrid Annuity Mode, the project aims to redefine urban mobility by connecting the Dwarka Expressway to Vasant Kunj. This strategic infrastructure project is designed to reduce traffic bottlenecks, preserve ecological zones, and strengthen Delhi’s connectivity with Gurugram and the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.
Key Points / Main Content
Project Specifications and Infrastructure
Dimensions: The project consists of an 8.1-km, six-lane corridor on NH-148AE.
Technical Highlights: Features a 3.14-km twin-tube tunnel, with a 1.98-km section constructed beneath the Southern Ridge.
Funding and Implementation: Approved at a cost of ₹6,969.67 crore, the project will be developed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) of the NH(O) Scheme by NHAI.
Route: Connects the Shiv Murti Interchange on the Dwarka Expressway (NH-248BB) with Nelson Mandela Marg in Vasant Kunj.
Urban Mobility and Decongestion
Direct Connectivity: Provides a high-speed, access-controlled link between West and South Delhi, reducing reliance on congested routes like Dhaula Kuan–IGI Airport and Chhatarpur–Mahipalpur.
Regional Integration: Enhances travel between Delhi and Gurugram, while integrating with the proposed AIIMS–Mahipalpur Elevated Corridor to establish east-west connectivity toward Ghaziabad and Noida.
Commuter Benefits: Aims to make daily travel faster, safer, and more reliable for residents and commercial traffic.
Tourism and Economic Impact
Heritage Access: Improves connectivity from the airport to iconic sites including Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, and Hauz Khas.
Business and Events: Facilitates smoother travel to Bharat Mandapam and India Gate, supporting the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) ecosystem.
Global Gateway: Strengthens links between the diplomatic enclave, business districts, and the IGI Airport to reinforce Delhi’s status as a global commercial hub.
Sustainability and Environmental Design
Ecological Preservation: The tunnel design minimizes surface disruption to preserve Delhi’s green cover and the sensitive Southern Ridge landscape.
Balanced Development: Reflects the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) commitment to balancing infrastructure growth with environmental stewardship.
Impact Analysis
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)Impact
Responsible for the implementation and management of a high-value, technically complex project under the HAM model.
Action Required
Execute the construction of the 8.1-km corridor and twin-tube tunnel according to the approved budgetary and environmental guidelines.
Commuters and Residents (West/South Delhi and Gurugram)Impact
Will experience significantly reduced travel times, fewer traffic bottlenecks, and more predictable commutes between residential and business hubs.
Action Required
Shift transit routes to the new access-controlled corridor once completed to bypass traditional congestion points.
Tourism and Hospitality SectorImpact
Increased visitor accessibility to heritage sites and convention centers, potentially boosting the local MICE and tourism economy.
Action Required
Prepare for increased visitor flow and leverage improved connectivity for hosting international conferences and cultural events.
Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport UsersImpact
International delegates, business travelers, and investors will benefit from faster and more predictable travel to diplomatic and commercial districts.
Action Required
Utilize the high-speed link for more efficient transit to and from the airport.
Key Entities Referenced
Dwarka Tunnel Corridor: An 8.1-km, six-lane highway project on NH-148AE featuring a twin-tube tunnel designed to connect the Dwarka Expressway with South Delhi.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI): The nodal agency responsible for the implementation of the Dwarka Tunnel project under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA): The high-level government committee that granted formal approval for the construction of the 6 Lane Dwarka Road Tunnel.
NH(O) Scheme: The National Highway (Original) Scheme, the policy framework under which the tunnel project is funded and developed.
National Capital Region (NCR): The central geographic area, including Delhi, Gurugram, and Noida, where the project is implemented to enhance urban mobility and connectivity.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Delhi's Underground Link to the Future: The
Tunnel Set to Rewire the Capital's Connectivity
प्रव तथ: 25 JUL 2026 5:37PM by PIB Delhi
For millions arriving in India's capital each year, the first impression of Delhi is often shaped by congested
airport approaches, traffic bottlenecks and lengthy journeys between key business, diplomatic and cultural
districts. The 6 Lane Dwarka Road Tunnel on NH- 148AE, approved earlier this month by the Cabinet
Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) is set to redefine urban mobility in the National Capital Region.
To be implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the Ministry of Road
Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the 8.1-km, six-lane project, to be developed at an estimated cost of
₹6,969.67 crore on Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) under the NH(O) Scheme, will connect the Shiv Murti
Interchange on the Dwarka Expressway (NH-248BB) with Nelson Mandela Marg in Vasant Kunj. The
corridor will provide a high-speed, access-controlled link between West and South Delhi, particularly
benefiting traffic from Gurugram, Dwarka, IGI Airport and West Delhi. Its defining feature is a 3.14-km
twin-tube tunnel, including a 1.98-km stretch beneath the Southern Ridge, ensuring seamless mobility
while preserving one of Delhi's most ecologically sensitive landscapes.
Reimagining Urban Mobility
The Dwarka Tunnel Corridor will provide a direct, uninterrupted connection between the Dwarka
Expressway and South Delhi, reducing dependence on heavily congested routes such as Dhaula Kuan–IGI
Airport–Mahipalpur, Chhatarpur–Mahipalpur and Rangpuri. By improving traffic flow and reducing travel
delays, the project will make daily commuting faster, safer and more reliable for residents, airport users
and commercial traffic alike.
The corridor will also strengthen integration between Delhi and Gurugram, improving access to key
residential areas, commercial centres, institutional hubs and the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Together with NHAI's proposed AIIMS–Mahipalpur Elevated Corridor, which will connect the tunnel to
the Barapullah Elevated Road, the project will establish seamless east-west connectivity across the city,
benefiting travel to East Delhi, Ghaziabad and Noida while creating a more efficient urban transport
network.
Enhancing Tourism and Visitor Experience
Delhi welcomes millions of domestic and international visitors every year, and efficient connectivity is
central to their travel experience. 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 facilitate smoother travel to Bharat Mandapam, India Gate and other major venues that
host international conferences, exhibitions and cultural events.
By reducing congestion around the airport corridor and major traffic bottlenecks, the project will offer
visitors a faster, more comfortable journey while supporting Delhi's hospitality, tourism and meetings,
incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) ecosystem.Strengthening Delhi's Global Gateway
As the primary gateway to the National Capital, the Indira Gandhi International Airport serves millions of
passengers each year. The new corridor will improve connectivity between the airport and Delhi's
diplomatic enclave, business districts, convention centres and institutional hubs, enabling quicker and
more predictable travel for international delegates, business travellers and investors. By strengthening
links between the airport, Dwarka, Gurugram and South Delhi, the project will reinforce Delhi's position
as a leading centre for commerce, diplomacy and global engagement.
Building Sustainable Infrastructure
A distinguishing feature of the project is its environmentally sensitive design. The 3.14-km twin-tube
tunnel, including a 1.98-km section beneath the Southern Ridge, enables critical transport infrastructure to
be developed while preserving Delhi's valuable green cover and minimising surface disruption. This
approach reflects MoRTH's commitment to balancing infrastructure development with environmental
stewardship.
More than an urban road project, the Dwarka Tunnel Corridor represents a strategic investment in future-
ready mobility. By improving connectivity, reducing congestion and integrating key transport corridors, it
will enhance the quality of urban life, strengthen economic activity and support the continued growth of
the National Capital Region.
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NHAI Official
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