The Union Cabinet approved two road projects totalling Rs 141.1481 billion (Rs 141.1481 bn) to ease congestion and strengthen regional connectivity. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the prime minister, cleared a six?lane tunnel linking the Dwarka Expressway with south Delhi and a greenfield highway between Kanpur and Kabrai. I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the projects were expected to improve logistics and accelerate economic growth.

Delhi’s project is a Rs 69.6967 billion (Rs 69.6967 bn) scheme to build an 8.1 km six?lane tunnel on NH?148AE, connecting the Shivmurti Interchange with Nelson Mandela Marg in Vasant Kunj under the Hybrid Annuity Model. The works include a 3.14 km underground tunnel, approach ramps, elevated stretches and a 1.8 km elevated road, and will use tunnel boring machines beneath the Southern Ridge Forest to minimise surface disruption. The scheme is estimated to generate about 0.754 mn direct man?days and 0.98 mn indirect man?days of employment.

The Kanpur?Kabrai corridor is a Rs 71.4514 billion (Rs 71.4514 bn) greenfield road of 117.7 km, designed initially as four lanes with provision to expand to six and engineered for speeds of 80–100 kmph. Implemented by the National Highways Authority of India under a Build?Operate?Transfer toll model, it includes operation and maintenance of the existing Kanpur?Kabrai stretch of NH?34. The route is expected to cut travel time from about three and a half hours to around 90 minutes and to improve road safety and vehicle operating costs.

The Kanpur?Kabrai project is projected to create about 12 mn person?days of employment during construction and to carry an annual average daily traffic of roughly 18,069 passenger car units by FY29. The corridor will link industrial and commercial centres, state highways and logistics hubs and will improve access to the Kabrai mining belt, agricultural areas and markets. Officials indicated the two projects would integrate with routes such as the Bundelkhand Expressway and the Kanpur Ring Road and would enhance urban mobility, reduce congestion and support industrial development across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and the National Capital Region.