Cabinet approves Construction of 6 Lane Road Tunnel For NH-148AE connecting Dwarka Expressway (NH 248 BB) with Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj in Delhi with a Total Project Length of 8.1 Km worth Rs. 6969.67 crore on Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) under NH (O) scheme

Why in news

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved the construction of a 6 Lane Road Tunnel for NH-148AE in Delhi.

Exam relevance

GS3, GS2 · Economy, Governance, Environment & Ecology, Geography · Prelims · Mains

Key facts

1. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the construction of a 6 Lane Road Tunnel for NH-148AE.
2. The tunnel will connect Dwarka Expressway (NH 248 BB) with Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj in Delhi.
3. The total project length is 8.1 Km.
4. The total capital cost is Rs. 6969.67 crore.
5. The project will be implemented on Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) under the NH (O) scheme.
6. It aims to provide faster connectivity between West and South Delhi and benefit traffic from Gurugram, Dwarka, IGI Airport, and West Delhi.
7. A 1.98 km tunnel section passes beneath the Southern Ridge Forest, minimizing surface disruption.
8. The tunnel is designed as a twin-tube tunnel and will be constructed through TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine).
9. It takes off from Shivmurti Interchange and terminates before the intersection of Nelson Mandela Marg and Mahipalpur Chhatarpur Road.
10. An elevated road (1.8 Km) is also proposed along Nelson Mandela Marg to mitigate congestion at the intersection.
11. NHAI is also proposing an Elevated Corridor between AIIMS and Mahipalpur to connect the tunnel with the Barapullah elevated road.

Prelims pointers

• Project: 6 Lane Road Tunnel for NH-148AE.
• Location: Delhi, connecting Dwarka Expressway (NH 248 BB) with Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj.
• Total Project Length: 8.1 Km.
• Total Capital Cost: Rs. 6969.67 crore.
• Funding Mode: Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM).
• Approval Authority: Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).
• Environmental Aspect: 1.98 km tunnel section passes beneath Southern Ridge Forest.
• Construction Method: Twin-tube tunnel, to be constructed through TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine).
• Implementing Body: NHAI (implied by article).

Mains practice question

Discuss the significance of urban infrastructure projects like the 6-lane road tunnel in Delhi for addressing metropolitan congestion and promoting sustainable development. Evaluate the role of funding mechanisms like Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) in such projects.

Static linkage

This project is part of India's broader National Highway development program and urban infrastructure initiatives aimed at decongesting metropolitan areas. It also involves modern construction techniques like Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) and public-private partnership models like Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM). The environmental consideration of passing beneath the Southern Ridge Forest links to sustainable development and environmental impact mitigation in infrastructure projects.

Significance

The project holds significant importance for urban infrastructure development by enhancing connectivity between key areas of Delhi and its surrounding regions, thereby reducing travel time and traffic congestion. Its use of an underground twin-tube tunnel minimizes environmental disruption, particularly to the Southern Ridge Forest, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable development. The integration with existing and proposed elevated corridors will create a comprehensive network, improving overall traffic flow and benefiting commuters from Gurugram, Dwarka, IGI Airport, and various parts of Delhi. The Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) financing model also highlights innovative approaches to funding large-scale public infrastructure projects.