India, July 1 -- The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the construction of an 8.1-km six-lane road tunnel connecting the Dwarka Expressway (NH-248BB) with Nelson Mandela Marg in Vasant Kunj at an estimated cost of Rs.6,969.67 crore. The project, to be implemented under the hybrid annuity mode (HAM), is expected to be completed in five years.

The tunnel will pass beneath the Southern Ridge, one of Delhi's largest forested areas, using Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) technology to minimise surface disturbance. Stressing that protecting the Ridge was central to the project's design, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said all construction would be carried out without affecting the ecologically sensitive area.

"All work must be done without dist...