Jaipur: Traffic from Mumbai towards Delhi officially commenced through the Mukundra Tunnel in Kota district of Rajasthan, as part of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, one of India’s most ambitious highway projects, on Monday.
The tunnel is the widest road tunnel in Rajasthan and is expected to provide significant relief to motorists who have long faced traffic bottlenecks in the Dara Valley.
The second tunnel tube is in its final stages of construction and is expected to open soon. Once fully operational, the twin-tube tunnel will improve connectivity, enhance road safety, and reduce travel time for commuters and freight transport alike.
Developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the project is expected to lower transportation costs while accelerating the movement of goods across the region.
The opening also marks another important section of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway becoming operational. The Mukundra Tunnel is expected to strengthen logistics across the Hadoti region by enabling faster transportation of agricultural and industrial products to major markets. Ramganjmandi’s globally known coriander market is expected to benefit from improved connectivity.
Businesses involved in the Kota Stone industry and other stone products will also be able to transport goods more efficiently to Delhi, Mumbai, Gujarat, and other key destinations.
The Dara Valley has witnessed frequent traffic congestion due to ongoing expressway construction and traffic diversions. With the opening of the tunnel, heavy vehicles will bypass much of the congested stretch, easing pressure on existing roads and improving traffic flow for both local commuters and long-distance travellers.
For safety reasons, vehicles carrying diesel, petrol, LPG, CNG, or other flammable gases and hazardous chemicals will not be permitted inside the tunnel. Such vehicles will be diverted through designated alternative routes to minimise the risk of fire, explosions, or other emergencies. The tunnel, located near Chechat, will provide uninterrupted access towards Madhya Pradesh via the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.
Most of the route through Madhya Pradesh is already operational, with only a few sections towards Vadodara still under construction.
Being twin-tube, eight-lane tunnel, it is one of Rajasthan’s longest and widest road tunnels. Once fully connected, motorists traveling from Kota will enjoy a continuous expressway journey through Madhya Pradesh towards Gujarat, significantly reducing travel time and improving long-distance connectivity.
The tunnel for traffic moving from Mumbai towards Delhi is opening on Monday. Construction of the second tube is progressing rapidly, and it will be opened to public traffic as soon as the remaining work is completed, said Sandeep Agarwal, Project Director, NHAI.
(IANS)
