logo
Delhi: Vasant Kunj tunnel work likely to start in 2026

Delhi: Vasant Kunj tunnel work likely to start in 2026

Hindustan Times7 hours ago

The construction of a new underground tunnel connecting Shiv Murti–Mahipalpur (Dwarka Expressway) to Nelson Mandela Road in Vasant Kunj in south Delhi is likely to begin early next year, with all clearances for the project in advanced stages, officials said on Sunday. The five-kilometre-long tunnel will redefine commute in the congested parts of south Delhi, chief minister Rekha Gupta said on Sunday.
The tunnel will be built by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) at an estimated cost of ₹3,500 crore. The tunnel is part of a larger infrastructure push under the 'double engine government', Gupta added.
'This tunnel is the foundation for the Delhi of the future. We are committed to making Delhi congestion-free and clean. The construction of this tunnel will reduce the burden on roads, eliminate traffic signals and save fuel,' Gupta said.
The tunnel will provide a seamless, signal-free connection between south Delhi and Dwarka-Gurugram, easing pressure on key stretches such as Nelson Mandela Road, Mahipalpur, Rangpuri, and the chronically jammed National Highway 48 near Dhaula Kuan and Rao Tula Ram Marg, officials said.
According to officials, the tunnel will consist of two underground tubes — one for each direction — with three lanes each, allowing for six-lane traffic movement beneath the city's surface.
Apart from decongesting existing road networks, the tunnel is also expected to play a critical role in pollution mitigation by offering a faster, signal-free route and reducing idling time for vehicles, officials said.
Gupta described the project as a symbol of effective Centre-state coordination, thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari for their support. 'The national capital is now reaping the benefits of double-engine governance,' Gupta said.
Earlier this week, the Delhi government had announced that six major infrastructure projects worth ₹24,000 crore have been approved by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
Officials involved with the project said the tunnel will be equipped with modern safety and operational technologies, including electro-mechanical systems, ventilation, CCTV surveillance and emergency exits. Once constructed, the tunnel is expected to connect central and east Delhi to multiple major highways such as the Delhi Expressway (NE-5), NH-44, NH-10, NH-48 (Delhi-Jaipur Highway), and NH-709B (Delhi-Dehradun Expressway), via the Urban Extension Road (UER) and Dwarka Expressway.
In December 2023, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) had submitted a report to MoRTH saying that residents of south Delhi had raised concerns that the tunnel could have an adverse impact on forest and environment, and possibly damage houses in the area.
According to a previous report of the ministry, the tunnel will pass through 5.825 hectares of area, which comes under the southern Ridge, and another 1.68 hectares of a deemed forest, for which permission has been applied under the Forest Conservation Act (FCA), 1980 for felling of 417 trees, against which compensatory afforestation will be done. In November 2022, the Delhi's Ridge Management Board (RMB) cleared the project, and further recommended it to the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), which cleared it in June 2023, and the Supreme Court gave the final approval in October last year.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta plants ‘sindoor' sapling at government school
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta plants ‘sindoor' sapling at government school

The Hindu

time39 minutes ago

  • The Hindu

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta plants ‘sindoor' sapling at government school

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday (June 9, 2025) planted a 'sindoor' sapling at a government school in her Shalimar Bagh constituency as part of a government campaign on planting trees. Prime Minister Narendra Modi too had planted a 'sindoor' sapling, presented to him by a group of women who had shown remarkable courage during the 1971 war, at his residence on World Environment Day on June 5. The gesture was seen as a nod to the recent Operation Sindoor. Ms. Gupta said, "Our Prime Minister had planted a 'sindoor' sapling. I also wanted to do the same. It is as if God heard my prayers. Today morning during a public hearing, some people gifted me a 'sindoor' sapling. I planted it to kickstart the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam Campaign 2.0," she said. The Chief Minister thanked Mr. Modi and the armed forces for Operation Sindoor. "Our armed forces and Modiji kept the dignity of our sisters. I would like to thank them for launching this operation," she added. India named its military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack Operation Sindoor as the terrorists had gunned down 26 civilians, all men and mostly tourists, and the devastated wives of several of the victims became the face of the tragedy. Ms. Gupta said the previous AAP government did not plant trees as part of the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign in Delhi. "The campaign is aimed at protecting our environment. We are launching this campaign," she added. Under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign, people plant trees in the name of their mothers -- a symbolic gesture to honour the role of mothers in nurturing life and address the pressing need for environmental preservation.

Delhi to build 5-km tunnel from Shiv Murti to Nelson Mandela Road to ease traffic
Delhi to build 5-km tunnel from Shiv Murti to Nelson Mandela Road to ease traffic

New Indian Express

time42 minutes ago

  • New Indian Express

Delhi to build 5-km tunnel from Shiv Murti to Nelson Mandela Road to ease traffic

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government on Sunday announced the construction of a tunnel from Shiv Murti–Mahipalpur to Nelson Mandela Road in Vasant Kunj to ease congestion in South Delhi and the NCR. The tunnel, featuring two underground tubes, is expected to streamline vehicular flow and significantly reduce traffic snarls. CM Rekha Gupta said the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has approved six major infrastructure projects for the capital. Among them, the 5-kilometre-long tunnel is a key initiative aimed at balancing traffic between South Delhi and NCR, curbing pollution, and enhancing the city's overall infrastructure. The project will be developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) at an estimated cost of Rs 3,500 crore. According to the chief minister, the tunnel will include two underground tubes, one for each direction. Each tube will have three lanes, ensuring smooth traffic movement. The tunnel will also be equipped with advanced features such as electro-mechanical systems, ventilation, fire safety measures, CCTV surveillance, emergency exits, cross-passages, and control rooms. Gupta stated that the decision came after a meeting with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, during which infrastructure projects worth Rs 24,000 crore aimed at decongesting Delhi and its adjoining regions were cleared. She said, 'This tunnel will not only reduce the load on existing roads but will also transform the entire traffic scenario in South Delhi and surrounding areas.' Government officials explained that the tunnel will decongest Nelson Mandela Road, Mahipalpur, and Rangpuri. It is also expected to reduce traffic on Dhaula Kuan, Rao Tula Ram Marg, and NH-48, offering a signal-free corridor connecting South Delhi with Dwarka and Gurugram. In the long run, the tunnel will serve as a key link between Central/East Delhi and major highways including NH-44, NH-10, NH-48, NE-5, NH-709B, and the Delhi-Dehradun expressway, via the Urban Extension Road and Dwarka Expressway. Calling it the 'foundation for the Delhi of the future,' CM Gupta said the project would commence early next year and reflects her government's commitment to a congestion-free and clean Delhi.

How ICICI Bank RM stole Rs 4.6 cr from customers - and what you must learn
How ICICI Bank RM stole Rs 4.6 cr from customers - and what you must learn

Business Standard

time2 hours ago

  • Business Standard

How ICICI Bank RM stole Rs 4.6 cr from customers - and what you must learn

In a shocking case of internal bank fraud, an ex-ICICI Bank relationship manager in Kota, Rajasthan, has been arrested for stealing Rs 4.58 crore from over 110 customer accounts — many of them senior citizens — over a period of nearly three years. The fraud, which went undetected for months, highlights the urgent need for personal finance vigilance, especially in the digital banking era. Such was the extent of her obsession with stock market trading that the 26-year-old Sakhi Gupta went to shocking lengths — allegedly siphoning off Rs 4.58 crore from unsuspecting customers, including even her own father-in-law. The funds were reportedly diverted into high-risk futures and options (F&O) trading, in a desperate bid to profit from speculative market movements. According to police, Gupta has been pilfering from more that 110 accounts belonging to 41 customers for around two years at the Kota branch. She allegedly invested this amount in the stock market and lost the majority of it. How did the fraud occur? According to police and internal bank investigations, the accused, Sakshi Gupta, misused her access to break customer FDs prematurely, create overdrafts, sanction loans, and reroute funds to her personal trading accounts. She allegedly: Broke 31 FDs worth Rs 1.34 crore without informing customers. By changing mobile numbers to relatives' lines, she prevented customers from receiving alerts and hiding transactions Stolen money was routed through a 'pool account' (one elderly customer's account with over ₹3 crore) before being transferred to her demat/trading accounts. All ₹4.58 crore were invested in F&O trades via apps like Zerodha and ICICI Direct, but she reportedly lost the entire amount How the scam unfolded: According to the police investigation, the relationship manager broke fixed deposits (FDs) prematurely, created overdraft facilities, and even took personal loans in the names of unsuspecting customers — all without their consent or knowledge. The fraudulent transactions spanned over months and were cleverly hidden using manipulated entries in the bank's internal systems. She exploited her access to ICICI Bank's Insta Kiosk and digital banking channels to carry out these unauthorized transactions, betraying the trust of both the bank and its customers. What's more worrying: she reportedly manipulated entries in ICICI Bank's internal software to cover her tracks, making it difficult for both customers and internal auditors to detect any red flags. The police also alleged that Gupta misused debit cards, PINs, and OTPs for these transactions, and even activated overdraft facilities on 40 accounts without consent. In addition to this, she permanently closed fixed deposits of 31 customers and funneled over Rs. 1.34 crore, while also taking a personal loan of Rs. 3.40 lakh. What Is a pool account, and why it matters? A pool account is typically used to consolidate funds from various sources. In this fraud: She collected money from broken FDs, overdrafts, and fake loans into one account. From there, funds were easily routed to her personal investment accounts. This minimized red flags, since transactions were less scattered and easier to manage. By centralizing transactions, she avoided the complexity and detection risks associated with moving money through 40+ accounts. Who were the victims? Most of the victims were elderly customers, many of whom relied on FDs as a source of post-retirement income. They remained unaware as alerts were rerouted and their bank accounts tampered with behind the scenes. A customer complaint about a missing FD triggered an internal audit by ICICI, leading to a branch manager filing an FIR on February 18, 2023, and her arrest in May 2025. What did ICICI Bank do? ICICI Bank filed an FIR and confirmed that all affected customers have been compensated. The bank has since strengthened internal controls, but the incident raises serious questions about employee oversight and customer protection. An ICICI Bank spokesperson, in a press note, said that the interest of costumes is most important and upon discovering the activities the bank immediately filed an FIR. "We have a zero-tolerance policy against any fraudulent activity,' they said, adding that the employee has been suspended and genuine claims of impacted customers have been settled. Key red flags: FDs were closed without OTPs being triggered. No transaction alerts were received by customers due to outdated contact details. Customers only realized something was wrong after significant sums were gone What this means for you? If you're a bank customer: Check your alerts: Ensure your mobile number and email are updated with your bank to receive all transaction notifications. Monitor FD and loan activity: Unexpected closure of FDs or creation of overdrafts should raise red flags. Review bank statements regularly, especially if you're a senior citizen or non-tech-savvy. Immediately report any suspicious changes (like mobile number alterations or OTP behavior) to your bank's fraud cell.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store