NHAI Floats Tender for ₹3,549 Crore Six-Lane Road Tunnel Linking Dwarka Expressway and Nelson Mandela Marg, Delhi
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is planning a six-lane road tunnel on NH-148AE, connecting Dwarka Expressway (NH-248BB) with Nelson Mandela Marg at Vasant Kunj in Delhi. The project involves an 8.1-km tunnel corridor at an estimated construction cost of ₹3,549 crore, to be executed under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) through a Public-Private Partnership framework.
The tunnel is intended to provide a high-capacity underground link between West Delhi and South Delhi, decongesting existing surface corridors and improving access to the airport region and key business districts. Scope of work includes tunnel excavation, portal structures, ventilation systems, fire and life-safety infrastructure, drainage, electrical and lighting installations, traffic management systems, surveillance infrastructure, and emergency response facilities.
NHAI has floated the tender for selecting a private developer to undertake design, construction, operation and maintenance of the tunnel corridor. The selected concessionaire will also maintain the asset through the concession period. As of June 2026, the project is in the pre-construction stage, with bid evaluation and developer selection underway.
Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with completion targeted for 2031.