Delhi Pragati Maidan Underpass Gets Railways Clearance

Delhi commuters who regularly get stuck around ITO, Bhairon Marg and Pragati Maidan finally have a reason to watch one delayed project closely. Underpass-5 of the Pragati Maidan Integrated Transit Corridor has received a crucial clearance from Indian Railways, allowing construction to restart. The underpass is the missing link in a corridor whose main tunnel and other underpasses opened earlier, while this section stayed stuck because it passes beneath active railway lines. The delay was not just administrative. Reports point to technical concerns around soil settlement, flooding and structural work below railway tracks. A redesigned plan was approved in 2025, but work still needed Railways approval before full execution could resume. For daily drivers and bus users, the impact could be practical: shorter travel time near central Delhi chokepoints and smoother movement between East Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad and the India Trade Promotion Organisation area. The target now is December 2026. The editor should watch whether the restarted work actually keeps pace, because Delhi has seen many infrastructure deadlines slip after clearances are announced.