Mukundra Hills Tunnel: Delhi-Mumbai Expressway's Final Link Nears Completion

• The 5000-meter Mukundra Hills Tunnel, a crucial part of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, is set to be completed by April, enabling cars to travel at 120 km/h.
• Built by NHAI under Bharatmala Pariyojana, the double-lane tunnel passes through the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve, allowing wildlife movement above and vehicles below.
• The 4.9-kilometer tunnel, part of Package-15, features 8 lanes (4 in each direction), with 3.3 km underground and 1.6 km using the cut-and-cover method.
• At 22 meters wide and 11 meters high, it's one of India's widest road tunnels, equipped with advanced lighting, sensors, AI monitoring, fire safety, and ventilation systems.
• Connecting Chechat (Kota, Rajasthan) to Ratlam (Madhya Pradesh), the tunnel will reduce travel time from Gurugram to Vadodara to 10 hours and ease traffic in Dara Valley.

Why It Matters: The Mukundra Hills Tunnel's April completion will fully open the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, boosting connectivity and speed.