NEW DELHI: Motorists who are facing jams at Nelson Mandela Marg while travelling to the T3 airport terminal and Gurgaon from south Delhi will soon get relief as work on the central government’s proposed tunnel will start in two months.
South Delhi MP Ramesh Bidhuri said the tunnel, costing about Rs 2,000 crore, from Vasant Kunj Nelson Mandela Marg to Shiv Murti in Mahipalpur, has been approved. When complete, it would be possible to reach Gurgaon and the airport without getting stuck in a jam.
The ministry approved the construction after design changes and the removal of technical hurdles.
At 14 metres wide, this will be one of the widest tunnels in the country.
Senior officials said that after the construction of the 5-km tunnel, three major roads – the Delhi-Jaipur highway, Dwarka Expressway and Nelson Mandela Road – will be connected.
The tunnel would also decongest localities in south Delhi.
Vehicles reaching the Delhi-Jaipur NH-48 via the Dwarka Expressway from north Delhi will be able to go directly to NH 148AE via the tunnel and Shiv Murti. For this, at present, one has to cover around 13 km.
Sources said the NHAI has invited tenders from construction agencies. According to the conditions laid down, the project will have to be complete in the next four years. The agency would have to maintain it for the next 10 years.
A senior official said the detail project report was approved six months ago, but later some experts suggested several technical changes.
The distance from NH-148AE at National Mandela Marg to NH-248 BB (Dwarka Expressway) and NH-48 (Delhi-Jaipur) at Shiv Murti Chowk is about eight kilometres. Due to it being a national highway, the pressure of vehicles in this part is high, causing jams during rush hour. After the tunnel is ready, the distance will be reduced to around 5 km.
