PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate Delhi Pragati Maidan tunnel and 5 underpasses on June 19

New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the main tunnel and five underpasses of the Pragati Maidan Integrated Transit Corridor project on Sunday. This 1.6 km long Delhi first tunnel will help commuters traveling from East Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad to India Gate and other central Delhi areas avoid traffic jams on ITO, Mathura Road and Bhairon Marg. The project is part of the Pragati Maidan redevelopment project. Prime Minister Modi will also address a public meeting on the occasion.

The Pragati Maidan Integrated Transit Corridor project has been built at a cost of over Rs 920 crore and is fully funded by the central government, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement on Friday. The tunnel is equipped with latest global standard facilities with fire management, automatic drainage, digitally controlled CCTV and public announcement system.

The objective of this tunnel is to provide easy access to the new world class Exhibition and Convention Center being developed at Pragati Maidan, to facilitate easy participation of exhibitors and visitors to the events at Pragati Maidan.

The impact of this project will go well beyond Pragati Maidan as it will ensure hassle free movement of vehicles and will help in reducing the time and cost of movement of passengers to a great extent. It is part of the government's broader vision to make people's lives easier through transforming urban infrastructure.

According to the PMO, the main tunnel connects Ring Road to India Gate via Purana Qila Road. According to him, this six-lane divided tunnel has multiple purposes, including access to the massive basement parking of Pragati Maidan. A unique feature of this tunnel is that two cross tunnels have been constructed under the main tunnel road to facilitate the movement of traffic from both sides of the parking lot.

According to the PMO, the long-awaited tunnel will act as an alternate route to Bhairon Marg and is expected to reduce more than half the traffic load on Bhairon Marg. Along with this tunnel, there will be six underpasses, four on Mathura Road, one on Bhairon Marg and one on Ring Road.

Delhi will be the first tunnel in which traffic will run

Public Works Department (PWD) officials said this would be the first tunnel in Delhi to carry traffic. The tunnel is equipped with the latest technologies like digital control form and will also have the facility of Public Announcement System. Another PWD official said around 100 CCTV cameras would be installed inside the tunnel and it would be closely monitored. We have also made arrangements for proper ventilation in the tunnel, the official said. Large specially German made fans have been installed for ventilation.

Separate entry and exit gates for Pragati Maidan

Apart from easing traffic movement in the ITO area, the tunnel and underpass will also improve connectivity to the newly redeveloped Pragati Maidan, the official said. Separate entry and exit gates have been made for Pragati Maidan from tunnel and underpass on Bhairon Marg. Officials said murals depicting Indian culture, birds and the six seasons in different parts of the country from Kashmir to Kanyakumari will adorn the tunnel.