Cabinet approves ₹14,115 crore for Uttar Pradesh highway, Delhi tunnel

Cabinet Approves ₹14,115 Crore for Uttar Pradesh Highway, Delhi Tunnel

Major Infrastructure Projects Greenlit

Theindiapostdaily.com – On Wednesday, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved two significant road infrastructure initiatives totaling over ₹14,000 crore. These projects aim to enhance transportation networks in key regions of India, with one focusing on Delhi and the other spanning Uttar Pradesh.

Delhi Tunnel Details

The first project involves a 8.1-kilometer, six-lane tunnel in Delhi, costing ₹6,970 crore. This tunnel will connect the Dwarka Expressway in the western part of the city to Vasant Kunj in the southern district, alleviating traffic on existing roads. According to Ashwini Vaishnaw, the minister of electronics and IT, and railways, the tunnel is expected to serve 37,000 vehicles daily once operational.

“This tunnel will be a big boon for Delhi. It will reduce congestion near the Delhi airport, and will become a new artery for the national capital,” Vaishnaw stated.

The tunnel’s design includes 3.1 kilometers of subterranean passage through the southern ridge forest, minimizing environmental impact. Construction will follow a hybrid annuity mode (HAM) and is set for completion in five years.

Kanpur-Kabrai Highway Overview

The second initiative is a 242-kilometer access-controlled highway linking Kanpur and Kabrai in Uttar Pradesh, with a budget of ₹7,145 crore. The project will initially be developed as a four-lane route, with infrastructure prepared for future expansion to six lanes. This will cut travel time between the two cities from 3.5 hours to 1.5 hours, enabling speeds of 80-100 km per hour.

“Aligned with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, the project will improve connectivity to 16 Economic Nodes, including the Unnao, Banther, Pankhi, Rania, Jainpur, Rooma, Chakeri, Sumerpur and Bhuragarh Industrial Areas, Trans Ganga Integrated Township, Growth Centre Jaipur, Kanpur Nagar Node and Bengal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd,” the statement said.

The highway will combine a 118-kilometer greenfield section and a 124-kilometer brownfield segment, which will be reinforced. It will be constructed under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) toll model and is projected to be completed within 2.5 years. The road is expected to handle 18,069 daily passenger cars by fiscal year 2027-28.

Broader Implications

India currently maintains 146,572 kilometers of national highways. The Kanpur-Kabrai highway is designed to connect Uttar Pradesh’s industrial hubs with Madhya Pradesh’s resource-rich manufacturing and agricultural zones. This will strengthen economic linkages and support regional development.

The approvals were announced following a review meeting chaired by Modi on June 30, where central government secretaries discussed deregulation reforms and strategies for self-reliance. These projects underscore the government’s focus on modernizing infrastructure to boost economic growth and efficiency.