Cabinet approves two highway projects for Rs 14,115 crore

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved two highway projects worth Rs 14,115 crore Wednesday. These are the 117.7 km Kanpur–Kabrai Access-Controlled Greenfield Highway in Uttar Pradesh, and a six Lane Road Tunnel For NH-148AE connecting Dwarka Expressway (NH 248 BB) with Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj in Delhi.

The Kanpur project will be a four-lane access-controlled corridor with structures designed for future six-laning. “Projects are now designed with longer term goals in mind and possibility of expansion if needed,” Union Information Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.

An official statement said this forms a key segment of the Bhopal–Kanpur Economic Corridor under the National Highways (O) Programme. The project will be implemented over the coming two years by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on BOT (Toll) mode for Rs 7,145.14 crore.


Work on this will continue together with the operation and maintenance of the existing Kanpur-Kabrai section of NH-34, the statement said, adding this corridor will be designed for operating speeds of 80–100 kmph.

“The corridor will reduce travel time between Kanpur and Kabrai from 3.5 hours to 1.5 hours (58%), while improving road safety, reducing vehicle operating costs and facilitating efficient movement of passenger and freight traffic,” the statement said.

The six-lane road tunnel in Delhi spans 8.1 Km at total capital cost of Rs 6,969.67 crore on Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM).

“This is expected to bring faster connectivity between West and South Delhi connecting UER 2/ Dwarka Expressway with Vasant Kunj in South Delhi,” a statement said, adding the underground twin-tube tunnel minimizes surface disruption, preserving Southern Ridge Forest (1.98 km tunnel section passes beneath the Ridge). It will be completed over the next five years.

NHAI is also proposing Elevated Corridor between AIIMS and Mahipalpur. This link will connect Tunnel with Barapullah elevated road thereby connecting West Delhi, South Delhi with East Delhi, Ghaziabad and NOIDA.