Final Pragati Maidan Underpass Gets Government Nod, Work to Resume After Monsoon

New Delhi | After years of engineering hurdles and seasonal setbacks, Delhi’s final Pragati Maidan Underpass in the Pragati Maidan Integrated Transit Corridor has received official clearance from the Centre. The Public Works Department (PWD) has confirmed that construction will begin immediately after the monsoon, with an expected completion timeline of eight to nine months.

This underpass is the sixth and final leg of the corridor, a crucial infrastructural project that includes five operational underpasses and a central tunnel— all inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022.

Engineered for Relief: A Unique Design

The final Pragati Maidan Underpass stands apart due to its non-uniform design. It will feature two uneven carriageways, with only one accessible to heavy vehicles. PWD officials noted that current traffic flow—limited to one lane for both directions—leads to daily congestion on Ring Road and Bhairon Marg, roads that serve over one lakh vehicles daily.

Flooding, Railways, and the Yamuna: Engineering Challenges

The most challenging portion—spanning 110 metres between Bhairon Marg and Ring Road—lies beneath an active railway line and adjacent to the Yamuna River. In March 2023, the original ‘box-pushing’ construction technique failed when water-logging caused the precast concrete boxes to sink up to two metres.

This failure halted progress and triggered a reassessment by experts from IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, and the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI).

Revised Techniques: IITs to the Rescue

Initially, the IITs recommended a ‘cut-and-cover’ method, but this required a 40-day railway traffic shutdown—a proposal Indian Railways rejected. The solution? A cast-in-situ method from the Ring Road side, where the tunnel would be built on-site instead of pushed in.

However, the design had to be significantly revised. The underpass will now be narrower and lower—6.25 metres wide and 3.9 metres high—restricting usage to light vehicles. Regulatory signage and height barriers will be installed to prevent misuse by heavy vehicles.

Flood Preparedness Measures in Place

To mitigate future disruptions, the Delhi government has upgraded Drain Regulator No. 14 near ITO. High-capacity pumps have been installed to prevent Yamuna backflow, which has previously flooded parts of the corridor, including Mathura Road and Kaka Nagar.

Green Signal from the Centre

The PWD’s revised design received final clearance from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in late June 2025. A senior-level committee assessed the changes before giving the go-ahead. The department now awaits formal documentation before resuming work post-monsoon.

A partially completed 90-metre stretch was opened temporarily last year to allow limited movement between Sarai Kale Khan and Ring Road. Once this final segment is completed, the entire corridor will become fully functional—offering smooth transit through one of Delhi’s most congested zones.

📊 PROJECT SNAPSHOT

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