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.
The six-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.
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.
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 will be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 6,969.67 crore under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) as part of the NH(O) Scheme. It 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.
The Dwarka Tunnel 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.
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.