3 min readNew DelhiOct 8, 2025 05:15 AM IST
First published on: Oct 8, 2025 at 05:15 AM IST
As he ordered a probe into the construction of Barapullah Phase III flyover project, Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Tuesday said that the Pragati Maidan tunnel near Bharat Mandapam “caused national embarrassment ahead of the G20 Summit”, considering it was constructed by the “same construction agency”, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Limited.
In an internal note to the Chief Secretary, the L-G criticised L&T, the construction agency involved in both the projects.
“The extraordinary delay in this project (Barapullah Phase-III flyover) has raised some fundamental policy issues which must be addressed: Whether large projects of this nature should have arbitration clauses embedding in them which provides incentive to contractors for making exorbitant claims as has been seen in other matters as well, even when the contractor is at fault?” Saxena said.
He added, “A similar instance was seen in the construction of the underpass near Bharat Mandapam by the same construction agency, in the face of glaring engineering defects which… caused national embarrassment ahead of G20 Summit.”
L&T did not respond to calls and messages by The Indian Express seeking a comment.
The Pragati Maidan tunnel project, readied in the nick of time for the G20 Summit, has been facing issues like seepage, large cracks on the surface, and walls to poor drainage. It was even closed for over a month soon after its inauguration in 2022.
The PWD, taking note of the construction quality of the tunnel, had called it “a potential threat to life” and issued a notice of Rs 500 crore for “serious technical and design deficiencies”.
It issued a notice of Rs 500 crore for “serious technical and design deficiencies”.
PWD had also pulled up L&T for not completing the underpass number 5 on Bhairon Marg, located below railway tracks.
The underpass has missed several deadlines, as the box pushing machine sank by 1.5 to 2 meters into the ground, which can only be resolved by either cutting the railway track above and pulling the machine from above to make it even with the other lane. However, the department did not get permission for this proposal, said officials.
It then proposed an in-cast situ method, saying it will complete the project as it is but one carriageway would be shorter than the other. This means that the heavy vehicles will be able to use only one of the two carriageways. Officials said that they received permission from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and Delhi Development Authority commissioners. It however, needs permission from the Railways for 40 days to undertake the work, “Railway has asked us to give an action plan for each day. We have submitted it,” said officials.
In his note, Saxena also said that all departments concerned should be directed to ensure that necessary regulatory approvals are in place prior to award of construction to avoid any such delays.
The Pragati Maidan tunnel project, readied in the nick of time for the G20 Summit, has been facing issues like seepage, large cracks on the surface, and walls to poor drainage (Express File Photo) 
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