The ambitious tunnel road project connecting Pragati Maidan (Bharat Mandapam) to Ring Road delayed due to damaged caused by the 2023 floods is unlikely to be completed any time soon. This became apparent after PWD Minister Parvesh Verma on Monday inspected the tunnel and said it will be completed in eight to nine months after getting approval from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Three out of ten boxes in the 800-meter-long tunnel reportedly have tilted due to soft soil conditions.
The Pragati Maidan-Bhairo Marg tunnel will be completed in eight to nine months after getting approval from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Verma said on Monday.
Verma, along with BJP MP Manoj Tiwari and Public Works Department (PWD) engineers, inspected the upcoming tunnel to take stock of the work.
“We have completed all technical reviews and submitted the proposal for final approval to the Centre. Once we receive the go-ahead, we will resume work after the monsoon. This last underpass is vital for decongesting traffic around Pragati Maidan, and we are fully committed to completing it at the earliest,” Verma said.
The tunnel, which forms a part of the Pragati Maidan transit corridor, is intended to provide a route for commuters travelling from Central Delhi to Sarai Kale Khan, ISBT, Ashram, and other areas.
According to a Government statement, the only work remaining is on a 28-metre stretch in the underpass number five.
Currently, only half of the underpass has been opened as the other ramp has not been completed. It was supposed to be opened along with the main tunnel at Pragati Maidan.
“Due to technical issues, construction was halted in 2023 after the precast concrete boxes sank due to flooding caused by the nearby Yamuna River. The engineering challenges combined with the sensitivity of working under live railway lines demanded expert intervention,” the statement added.
The PWD minister said the project was delayed due to the Yamuna flood two years ago and the “negligence” of the previous Government.
“We consulted top institutions like IIT-Delhi, IIT-Bombay, and CBRI to find a viable and safe solution. Based on their recommendations, we have proposed a switch to the cast-in-situ construction method, which avoids disturbing the railway tracks and minimises ground risks,” Verma added.
As per the revised strategy, the width of one side of the underpass will reduce from 11.5 metres to 6.25 metres, and the height will reduce from 5.5 metres to 3.9 metres. This means the underpass will now be restricted to light motor vehicles only.
The Pragati Maidan Integrated Transit Corridor, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022, was designed to ease traffic congestion on arterial roads like Ring Road, Mathura Road, and Bhairon Marg, and improve access to the Pragati Maidan exhibition complex.
It comprises a main tunnel and six underpasses, of which five are already operational. The only work remaining is on Underpass-5, which has a total length of 110 metres, out of which only 28 metres are pending.
This underpass includes a two-lane box (already completed) that carries traffic from ITO/Ring Road to Bhairon Marg and a three-lane box (revised to two lanes) that will carry traffic from Bhairon Marg to Ring Road.
The PWD statement said construction was halted in 2023 after the precast concrete boxes, pushed beneath an active railway line using the box-pushing method, sank due to flooding caused by the nearby Yamuna River. The engineering challenges, combined with the sensitivity of working under live railway lines, demanded expert intervention.
Under the revised method the existing sunken boxes will not be corrected, the width will reduce from 11.5 metres to 6.25 metres and the height will reduce from 5.5 metres to 3.9 metres
A detailed proposal, including expert recommendations and revised engineering designs, was submitted to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) last month. The matter is currently under review.
“We are hopeful that the Centre will grant approval soon. All groundwork has been completed from our side - the design is safe, the method is sound, and the urgency is evident given the daily traffic chaos in the area,” said the Minister. Once approved, PWD expects to resume work immediately after the monsoon, with a targeted completion time of eight months.
Currently, due to the incomplete underpass, traffic is being managed with temporary diversions and barricading, leading to severe congestion near Ring Road, Bhairon Marg, and Sarai Kale Khan. Once completed, this stretch will provide a dedicated, uninterrupted flow of traffic in both directions.
“Our objective is simple - to deliver world-class infrastructure while ensuring safety and long-term durability. We are ready to move as soon as the approval arrives,” emphasized Parvesh Sahib Singh. To prevent misuse, the department will install proper signage to restrict heavy vehicles from entering the downsized underpass.