3 min readOct 27, 2025 07:48 PM IST
First published on: Oct 27, 2025 at 07:48 PM IST
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) Monday said long tunnel projects of over 1.5 km length are getting delayed because detailed project reports (DPRs) are being submitted without conducting a proper investigation. Prior consultation with the ministry should be done to expedite approvals, it said. The Ministry added that the successful implementation of tunnel projects depends upon proper geo-technical investigation.
“…to expedite (the) review of tunnel proposals received in the Ministry, it is requested that once a tunnel (length > 1.5 km) is contemplated during feasibility/DPR preparation stage the same must be immediately informed to Tunnel Zone for prior consultation, before finalising alignment and feasibility studies so that requirements of investigations and assessments in accordance with the prescribed guidelines be intimated to the executing agency in advance in order to save time,” said the Ministry in a letter issued to the concerned departments including the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), and Chief Secretaries of state governments.
According to the ministry, the tunnels on national highways should be constructed in accordance with the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) guidelines stipulated in IRC:SP:91-2019 (Guidelines for Road Tunnels), which provides for the construction of tunnels to avoid passage through snowbound areas, eco-sensitive areas, pass below water bodies or congested areas, etc. On September 2, it also issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on improving tunnel alignment studies and approval.
“It has been observed that alignments of tunnels are being finalised and DPRs are being submitted for review to tunnel zone of the Ministry without conducting the requisite investigations and indicating relevant details as prescribed in the checklist. As a result, expeditious review of the DPR is being hindered. This in turn result in delay in appraisal and approval of the project. It is not out of place to mention that successful implementation of tunnel projects depends upon proper geo-technical investigation to reduce geological risk and uncertainties during implementation,” said the Ministry.
Detailed investigation and proper planning is important for tunnel projects since they involve high cost and are associated with high risk due to uncertainties in the region. The Ministry has directed all executing agencies to include IRC guideline for preparation of tunnel DPRs.
The MoRTH has been pushing for multiple tunnel projects, specially in the border areas involving strategic projects, to enhance the connectivity in the far-flung areas of the country. Notable projects include the Z-Morh tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir, which is part of the larger Zojila tunnel project, and the planned Jalori tunnel on NH-305 in Himachal Pradesh.
On September 2, it also issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on improving tunnel alignment studies and approval. 
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