Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw approved the construction of an eight-km [1] Dwarka Tunnel project in Delhi.

The project aims to resolve chronic traffic congestion in the capital while preserving the environmental integrity of the Delhi Ridge. By moving vehicle traffic underground, the government intends to protect the local ecology from further urban encroachment.

The tunnel will be a two-lane [2] thoroughfare designed to link the Shiv Murti Interchange directly with the DND Flyway. According to project plans, the route will run beneath the Delhi Ridge, passing through Vasant Kunj and Nelson Mandela Marg before connecting to the Barapullah corridor [1].

This infrastructure development follows a Cabinet approval granted in 2024 [1]. The strategic placement of the tunnel is intended to streamline travel between Dwarka and other major hubs in the city, reducing the reliance on surface roads that currently cut through sensitive green zones.

Officials said that the project is a necessary step to balance urban growth with environmental conservation. The tunnel will allow for a more efficient flow of commuters without necessitating the clearing of forest land on the ridge [1].

Construction of the eight-km [1] passage will involve complex engineering to navigate the terrain of the Delhi Ridge. The resulting two-lane [2] connection is expected to significantly decrease travel times for motorists moving toward the DND Flyway [1].

“The tunnel will be a two-lane thoroughfare designed to link the Shiv Murti Interchange directly with the DND Flyway.”

The Dwarka Tunnel represents a shift toward subterranean infrastructure to manage urban density in Delhi. By prioritizing the protection of the Delhi Ridge, the project acknowledges the tension between the city's need for rapid transit and the necessity of maintaining ecological buffers to combat urban heat and pollution.