The Union Cabinet has cleared a major road infrastructure project for Delhi that promises to transform daily commuting across large parts of the capital and its surrounding areas. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the cabinet approved the construction of an 8.1 km, six-lane road tunnel in the city. S. Jaishankar shared the news on social media.
What the Tunnel Will Do
The six-lane, 8.1 km tunnel is designed to improve road connectivity between West Delhi, South Delhi, Gurugram, and Indira Gandhi International Airport. These corridors rank among the busiest in the entire national capital region, carrying millions of commuters, air travellers, and office-goers every single day. Once the tunnel is operational, travel times across these stretches are expected to fall sharply, and the persistent gridlock that characterises these routes is likely to ease considerably.
17.5 Lakh Person-Days of Employment
Beyond its connectivity benefits, the project is projected to generate 17.5 lakh person-days of direct and indirect employment. That figure spans the full range of labour involved, from on-site construction workers and civil engineers to technicians, logistics workers, and others in associated industries. The scale of employment generation makes clear that the project's economic impact will extend well beyond simply improving Delhi's roads.
India's Infrastructure Push Under Modi
This tunnel approval is the latest in a continuing series of large infrastructure decisions taken under the Modi government. The Union Cabinet recently noted that Prime Minister Modi has served 4,399 days in office, making him the longest continuously serving head of government since the 1952 elections. Throughout that period, sustained and heavy investment in roads, expressways, tunnels, and airports has been a defining feature of the administration's governance approach. The Delhi tunnel project slots directly into that long-term infrastructure strategy.
Public Reaction
The announcement drew a broadly warm response online, with many people welcoming it as a long-overdue fix for Delhi's notorious traffic congestion. At the same time, a section of the public raised practical questions about construction quality, project timelines, and the need for independent audits and accountability mechanisms to ensure the tunnel delivers on its stated promises.
