After 3-year delay, final underpass of Delhi’s Pragati Maidan corridor nears completion — with an odd twist

Last March, the PWD opened a 90-metre section of the underpass that goes from Bhairon Marg to Ring Road. As a temporary measure, the department placed barricades in the middle to create two lanes and allow traffic movement from Ring Road to Bhairon Marg as well as from Bhairon Marg to Sarai Kale Khan.

However, multiple challenges came in the way of the authorities to finish the construction work, including limited time, as the underpass is being constructed beneath an active railway line. Moreover, officials added, the site has been flooded several times in the last few years in the monsoon due to its proximity to the Yamuna River. In 2023, the project hit a major roadblock, and the construction work was halted after its ‘box-pushing’ concrete got stuck. The ‘box-pushing’ method involves precasting concrete boxes and then pushing them into place under live rail lines using hydraulic jacks, allowing minimal disruption to rail traffic. Due to flooding at the site, officials said, the box-pushing concrete sank by 1.5 to 2 meters into the ground.

“To resolve the matter, consultation was sought from IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi. Both IITs suggested a ‘cut-and-cover’ method to complete the remaining work. This method involves cutting the railway track above, removing it to construct the tunnel, levelling the surface, and re-laying the track,” said an official, adding that 40 days were needed to complete this work.

“Accordingly, Railways was requested to allow 40 days for the completion of the remaining work. But, last March, the Railways denied permission and urged the PWD to explore other alternatives like cast-in-situ of balance box length from the other side,” the official added.

Left with no choice, PWD again consulted IIT Delhi and Bombay, which suggested that the cast-in-situ method from the Ring Road side was the most feasible option at the stage. Under this method, the settlement of boxes is not corrected.

The width of the underpass has been reduced for usage from 11.5 m to 6.25 m and the height of the box from 5.5 m to 3.9 m, said officials.

Officials said that as the standard height of the underpass is 5.5 m and one carriageway will be lower than the other one. Due to restrictions on the width and height of the underpass, only light vehicles like cars and bikes would be able to use the carriageway, which is lower. Also, with the reduction in the width, it will be double-laned instead of the proposed three-lane carriageway, said officials.

Last November, officials said, PWD submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) for approval and the Commissioner (Planning), DDA, for the completion of this underpass. In January, a meeting was held under the Chairmanship of an Additional Secretary, MoHUA, to discuss the issue in detail, where the Centre directed to formation of a committee of senior-level officers.

“The committee submitted a report in April to the competent authority for onward submission to the MoHUA. A proposal was again submitted to MoHUA with an inquiry report on May 20 for approval…Centre then forwarded it to DDA for comments and necessary action on May 30…After this, the Centre has given its approval to implement the in-cast situ method for this stretch,” said officials.

“As this underpass will be lower than the standard height, heavy vehicles like trucks, buses, or tempos can go from this underpass, taking the carriageway from Bhairon Marg, but cannot enter from the Ring Road side…,” said a senior official.

To create awareness and avoid confusion, proper signage will be installed, so that the big vehicles like trucks and tempos don’t enter the other carriageway, said officials.