What has been approved?
The tunnel will originate at the Shiv Murti Interchange and terminate before the intersection of Nelson Mandela Marg and the Mahipalpur-Chhatarpur Road. In addition to the underground section, the project includes 0.980 km of tunnel approach ramp, elevated stretches and at-grade roads to improve traffic flow around one of Delhi’s busiest junctions.
Why it matters for IGI Airport
The project is expected to improve connectivity to Delhi’s airport precinct. The CCEA said in a statement that the tunnel will facilitate smoother movement of traffic between Gurugram, Dwarka, IGI Airport and West Delhi towards South Delhi, reducing dependence on already congested surface roads.
For airport users, this could translate into faster and more predictable travel times, particularly during peak hours. Frequent users of these corridors — including airline passengers, taxis, app-based cab operators, airport employees, cargo transporters and business travellers — stand to benefit from improved traffic movement.
The project could also enhance connectivity to Aerocity, which has emerged as one of Delhi-NCR’s key hospitality and commercial hubs, housing hotels, offices and convention facilities that rely heavily on seamless airport access.
Part of a wider road network
The tunnel is designed as part of a broader effort to strengthen Delhi-NCR’s road network. It is expected to integrate with the proposed AIIMS-Mahipalpur elevated corridor, which the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is planning, and connect further with the Barapullah elevated road.
Together, these links could improve access to the airport not only from West and South Delhi but also from East Delhi, Ghaziabad and Noida by creating a more seamless cross-city corridor.
Building beneath the ridge
The tunnel will pass beneath the Rangpuri section of the South Delhi Ridge and will be constructed as a twin-tube tunnel using tunnel boring machine (TBM) technology. Nearly 2 km of the alignment will run beneath the Southern Ridge, allowing construction with minimal surface disruption in one of Delhi’s environmentally sensitive and densely built-up areas.
