Twin tunnels proposed under Yamuna for rail project

If things go as planned, Delhi may soon become the first city in the country to have twin rail tunnels under a river.

The tunnels will come up under the Yamuna for the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) that aims to link the capital with Meerut in Uttar Pradesh.

Sources in the Delhi government said that top officials have given their approval for the half-kilometre-long twin tunnels after the Union Urban Development Ministry revised the earlier design for the Delhi-Meerut link.

“The issue was referred to us once again and we have agreed to the new design for the underground section from Sarai Kale Khan to Anand Vihar,” said an official, aware of the discussions at Raj Niwas.

The underground section between Sarai Kale Khan and Anand Vihar would be about 10-km long and it would pass under the Akshardham Temple and the Commonwealth Games Village in east Delhi, he said.

Chief Secretary S K Srivastava attended a meeting with the Urban Development Ministry officials where he was informed that there would be a slight modification in the 90-km Delhi-Meerut link. He was later given a new plan which has now been approved.