Work to resume on Pragati Maidan underpass in Delhi after Centre’s nod

“This is not just a clearance. It is a green signal to speed, transparency, and accountability. Every rupee spent on infrastructure must yield public value, and I am glad that this solution safeguards both engineering integrity and financial responsibility. I thank MoHUA for their support. Now, execution is our top priority, and delay is not an option,” Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said.

According to officials, PWD will take steps like carrying out immediate grouting under the box structures to stabilise the soil and prevent further settlement. The other steps it will follow are urgent stitching of boxes beneath the railway embankment, enabling track strengthening and ensuring structural safety.

“The adoption of the cast-in-situ construction method with revised width and height parameters, identified as the most technically viable solution in the current scenario,” said an official.

Underpass 5 is a vital component of Delhi’s strategic transit upgrade, aimed at easing congestion in and around Pragati Maidan, ITO, and nearby arterial roads. Once operational, it will ensure seamless vehicular movement, especially during major conventions and public events at the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) complex.

PWD has been directed to immediately initiate the approved works and submit weekly progress reports to Singh’s office. The project is now being positioned as a model of high-impact infrastructure delivered with fiscal discipline and administrative resolve.