Centre Preparing DPR For Six-Lane Tunnel Linking Shiv Murti In Mahipalpur To Nelson Mandela Marg To Ease Delhi Traffic

The Union government is working on a proposal to build a six-lane, 5-km underground tunnel linking Shiv Murti-Mahipalpur to Nelson Mandela Road in Vasant Kunj, aimed at easing traffic in Delhi and its surrounding areas, the Indian Express reported.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari confirmed in a written Lok Sabha reply on Thursday (7 August) that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project.

“For de-congestion of Delhi, especially the Dhaula Kuan–Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport–Gurugram section of NH-48, the work of preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been taken up for the construction of tunnel connecting Shiv Murti (Mahipalpur) to Nelson Mandela Marg in Delhi. It would be connected with NH-48 and Dwarka Expressway through an interchange,” he stated.

Gadkari added that decisions on investment and implementation will depend on the DPR findings, fulfilment of criteria, inter-se priority, and synergy with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.

The minister was responding to BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, who sought clarity on the tunnel’s objectives and whether it would be integrated with major expressways such as the Dwarka Expressway and Urban Extension Road-II (UER-2) to boost multi-directional connectivity.

The planned tunnel will push Nelson Mandela Marg further out towards Gurgaon and Dwarka, creating a direct link between NH-8 and the Dwarka Expressway through a major interchange at Shiv Murti.

To ease the heavy load on NH-48 and clear up traffic on nearby arterial roads, it will offer an alternate route to the IGI Airport.

Cutting through New Delhi and South Delhi’s busy parts, the tunnel is expected to make travel smoother.

It will connect key logistics hubs, steer commercial vehicles away from crowded city streets, and is also expected to significantly reduce travel time.

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