The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has begun the planning phase for a 20-kilometre elevated corridor connecting AIIMS to the Mahipalpur bypass and the Gurugram–Faridabad Road, aimed at decongesting Delhi’s major arterial routes, officials said. The new corridor is expected to significantly ease traffic on the Delhi–Gurugram highway (NH-48), Mehrauli–Gurgaon Road, and both the inner and outer ring roads.

The NHAI has invited bids for consultancy services to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR), with the submission deadline set for 15 October. Officials confirmed that the report will finalise the design, alignment, and total project cost, currently estimated at around Rs 50 billion.

According to preliminary plans, the corridor will start near AIIMS/INA, extend via Nadira Marg, and connect to both the Mehrauli–Gurgaon Road and Gurugram–Faridabad Road, running parallel to NH-48. The corridor will create a direct, signal-free route across South Delhi, diverting through-traffic from Gurugram towards Ghaziabad, Noida, and Greater Noida, the NHAI report stated.

Officials said the alignment will cover key locations including Brig Hoshiyar Singh Marg, Africa Avenue, Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Vihar, Vasant Kunj, and Arjangarh, before terminating on the Faridabad–Gurgaon Road. The corridor will feature off-ramp exits for commuters travelling towards IFFCO Chowk (NH-148A), IGI Airport (NH-148AE), and Mahipalpur and Chhatarpur.

Experts have urged that the DPR be designed carefully to manage traffic load on alternate routes during construction. S. Velmurugan, Chief Scientist and Head of the Traffic Engineering and Safety Division at the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), noted that the Delhi–Gurgaon route is already operating at full capacity. “The upcoming elevated corridor will reduce the load, but the DPR must also plan for alternative transport and ensure minimal disruption,” he said.

He added that while the Delhi Airport may see reduced pressure once the Noida–Jewar Airport becomes operational, Gurugram connectivity remains a critical bottleneck. “Construction beyond the airport should be less challenging, but special care must be taken in the Delhi section, especially around the RTR flyover, where off-ramps should be meticulously planned,” Velmurugan advised.

The central government, earlier this year, directed NHAI to explore the feasibility of a tunnel or elevated corridor linking the Delhi–Meerut Expressway’s endpoint to the proposed AIIMS–Mahipalpur bypass corridor, creating a continuous high-speed link across eastern and southern Delhi.

Currently, both the Delhi–Meerut and Delhi–Dehradun expressways terminate near Sarai Kale Khan, while the DND–Sohna (Jewar) link of the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway is also set to commence soon. Officials noted that these overlapping routes will increase traffic congestion near the Sarai Kale Khan and NDMC zones, further justifying the need for an alternative elevated link.

The Delhi government had proposed a similar 14-kilometre corridor in 2019, connecting Barapullah near Thyagraj Stadium to Mahipalpur bypass, aimed at easing traffic near the Government Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) colonies such as Nauroji Nagar, Netaji Nagar, and Sarojini Nagar. However, the plan was shelved due to funding constraints and design challenges.

The new AIIMS–Mahipalpur–Gurugram elevated corridor, once completed, will serve as a key mobility corridor for commuters across South Delhi and NCR, drastically reducing travel time between AIIMS and Faridabad, while offering a long-term solution to Delhi’s persistent traffic woes.