The Delhi government has urged the Ministry of Railways to expedite the No Objection Certificate (NOC) required for the construction of the Bhairon Marg underpass, so that work can restart immediately after the monsoon.

Public Works Minister Pravesh Verma recently reviewed the project with officials from the Railways and the Public Works Department (PWD), instructing both agencies to work in close coordination for timely completion.

ALSO READ: Kolkata Rape Case: Man, Who Spent 51 Days In Jail, Acquitted After Woman Claims 'Misunderstanding'

The underpass, connecting Bhairon Marg and Sarai Kale Khan on Ring Road, has remained incomplete, causing traffic congestion in the area. Currently, two-way traffic is being operated on the Ring Road–Bhairon Marg stretch. Work came to a halt in 2023 after floodwaters from the Yamuna caused several sections of the underpass to sink into the ground.

Since railway lines pass directly over this section, the government has decided to adopt the cast-in-situ technique for construction, following consultations with IIT Delhi, IIT Mumbai, and the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI). Unlike the earlier box-pushing method, this technique will allow the tunnel to be built gradually on-site without disturbing rail traffic and offers greater safety.

The underpass is located at the Bhairon Marg–Ring Road T-point, over which trains move throughout the day. Originally scheduled for completion in June 2022, it was to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with five other underpasses, including the Pragati Maidan tunnel road. However, incomplete work and subsequent flooding left the project stalled, even though one side of the approach road had been finished.

ALSO READ: Damascus Airport Area Rocked By Powerful Explosion At Former Military Base

Officials said that of the total 110 metres, only 28 metres of work remains. 

The new plan includes:

  • Not removing the already sunken boxes
  • Reducing the width from 11.5 metres to 6.25 metres
  • Reducing the height from 5.5 metres to 3.9 metres
  • Limiting usage to light motor vehicles only
  • Building it as a two-lane underpass

The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is funding 80 per cent of the project, while the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) is contributing the remaining 20 per cent.