New Plan to Alleviate Traffic Congestion

June 1, 2026

Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari deserves the credit for significantly expanding the network of four-lane and six-lane highways across the country. Road transport now appears to be a more convenient option compared to rail transport. However, as progress has advanced, administrative oversight and public negligence have also emerged as sources of concern. A recent survey revealed that India records the highest number of road accidents and injuries globally; consequently, the Road Transport Minister now faces the formidable challenge of preventing accidents and reducing the mortality rate associated with them. The Central Government has accepted this challenge. Under the leadership of Nitin Gadkari, the Union Ministry of Transport has launched a new initiative aimed at providing relief from traffic congestion and improving road connectivity in difficult terrains. The inspiration for this scheme stems from Norway’s use of underground tunnels constructed alongside roads to facilitate smooth traffic flow. Now, Nitin Gadkari intends to introduce the option of tunnels in India as well, specifically targeting congestion-prone and accident-prone road corridors. To this end, an agreement has been signed between India and Norway. This pact has been concluded with the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute. Through this agreement, India will gain access to technical expertise for undertaking construction projects in sensitive and challenging underground environments. Gadkari notes that despite the construction of high-speed corridors and flyovers across the country, the problem of traffic congestion persists; however, to finally resolve this issue, a strategy involving the construction of underground corridors is now being implemented to free the roads from gridlock. A master plan is currently being formulated, under which these underground corridors will be developed along busy routes across the nation. The detailed blueprint for this initiative is expected to be unveiled shortly. The first pilot project—aimed at providing relief to the Delhi-NCR region—will involve the construction of a tunnel stretching from the Shiv Murti intersection to Nelson Mandela Marg in Mahipalpur. Here, the government plans to construct a six-lane tunnel beneath the surface. This project is estimated to cost approximately Rs 7,000 crore