- First eight-lane tunnel under wildlife sanctuary.
- Cuts Delhi-Vadodara travel time significantly.
- Twin-tube design ensures safe animal movement.
Aditya Raj, Gurugram: India's first eight-lane tunnel built under a wildlife sanctuary has opened near Rajasthan's Kota following the completion of safety inspections. For the first few days, only cars and large emergency vehicles are being allowed to pass through. Authorities plan to gradually open the tunnel to all types of vehicles over the coming days.
The new eight-lane tunnel eliminates the need to navigate 25 kilometres of winding roads through the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve, streamlining the journey between Delhi and Vadodara. The route will cut the current 20-to-22-hour travel time to just 10 to 12 hours, Jagran.com reported.
Construction Of Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve Tunnel
The most challenging section of the 1,380-kilometre Delhi-Mumbai Expressway was constructing a tunnel beneath the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve near Kota, a critical wildlife habitat. Construction on this specific stretch faced months of delays as engineers worked to advance the project without the wildlife that roam the area.
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Following 10 days of continuous safety inspections, the tunnel is now operational for light and emergency vehicles. It remains closed to heavy vehicles for the time being.
Trial Run Of Tunnel To Test Traffic Safety And Mobile Connectivity
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will utilise the passage of cars over the coming days to identify any deficiencies and evaluate mobile network connectivity inside the tunnel. If any network problem arises, telecom companies will be required to install their communication systems within the tunnel.
Speaking to Jagran.com, Sandeep Agarwal, NHAI Project Director for Kota, said that the tunnel will be inaugurated soon. He further stated that network issues are common in tunnels, and preparations are already underway to address these connectivity gaps.
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Key Features Of Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve Tunnel
- This is the country's first eight-lane tunnel built under a wildlife sanctuary.
-The total length of the tunnel is 4.9 kilometres.
-This tunnel is based on a twin-tube system, featuring two separate tunnels with four lanes each.
- The design allows tigers and other wild animals to move safely over the top of the structure.
- Vehicles will be allowed to pass through the tunnel at a prescribed speed limit.
- Vehicles will be allowed to pass through the tunnel at a prescribed speed limit.
- For the safety of commuters, the tunnel is equipped with nine emergency cross-passages.
- The tunnel features pollution control sensors and a modern ventilation system.
(With Inputs From Jagran.com)