Union Cabinet has approved the construction of a six-lane road tunnel connecting the Dwarka Expressway with Nelson Mandela Marg in Vasant Kunj, a major infrastructure project aimed at easing traffic congestion and improving connectivity across Delhi.

The project will span 8.1 kilometres and will be developed at an estimated cost of over ₹6,969 crore.

The announcement was made by Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw following the Cabinet meeting.

Improved Connectivity Across Delhi

The new tunnel will provide faster travel between West Delhi and South Delhi by linking the Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II)/Dwarka Expressway with Vasant Kunj.

The government expects the project to significantly reduce travel time, improve traffic flow, and offer commuters a more direct route between key parts of the national capital.

Elevated Road to Reduce Traffic Congestion

As part of the project, a 1.8-kilometre elevated road will also be constructed along Nelson Mandela Marg.

The elevated corridor is intended to reduce congestion at one of Delhi's busiest intersections and improve traffic movement in the surrounding areas.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is also planning an elevated corridor between AIIMS and Mahipalpur to further strengthen Delhi's road network.

Employment Generation

According to the government, the Dwarka tunnel project is expected to create substantial employment opportunities.

The construction work is projected to generate approximately 7.54 lakh person-days of direct employment and 9.80 lakh person-days of indirect employment, benefiting workers across multiple sectors.

Kanpur–Kabrai Highway Project Also Approved

Alongside the Delhi tunnel, the Cabinet also approved the construction of the 117.7-kilometre Kanpur–Kabrai section of National Highway-34 in Uttar Pradesh.

The access-controlled four/six-lane highway will be built at an estimated cost of ₹7,145 crore.

The project aims to improve connectivity between Kanpur, Kabrai, Sagar, Bhopal, and other parts of Madhya Pradesh while strengthening links with the Bundelkhand Expressway, Kanpur Ring Road, and several state highways.

Designed for operating speeds of 80–100 km/h, the new corridor is expected to reduce travel time between Kanpur and Kabrai from 3.5 hours to approximately 1.5 hours.

The government estimates the highway project will generate nearly 1.2 crore person-days of direct and indirect employment.

Boost to Infrastructure Development

The approval of both infrastructure projects reflects the government's continued focus on expanding the national highway network, improving urban mobility, reducing travel time, and supporting economic growth through large-scale public infrastructure investment.