NHAI 6-lane road tunnel, NH-148AE, Delhi

NHAI is looking for a builder for a six-lane road tunnel on NH-148AE in Delhi — the stretch that links the Dwarka Expressway (NH-248BB) to Nelson Mandela Marg at Vasant Kunj. It is a HAM job worth about ₹ 3,549.34 crore, and bids close on 18 August 2026.

What the job is

Think tunnel, not just a road. The winner builds a six-lane underground link with its approaches, then keeps it running for years under the Hybrid Annuity Model. So you are signing up for two things: the build, and the long maintenance tail that follows. It sits inside Delhi’s Dwarka Expressway corridor, and at ₹ 3,549 crore it is about the biggest single road package open in the capital right now. That number covers everything an urban tunnel needs underground — ventilation, lighting, drainage, fire and safety systems.

Who should bid

Be honest with yourself before you chase this one. The EMD alone is ₹ 35.49 crore, so it is built for large EPC players with real tunnelling history and a balance sheet that can carry a HAM annuity. You will need a track record in city tunnelling, deep excavation and traffic management, plus the turnover the RFP asks for. Read those eligibility lines first. They tell you in five minutes whether the bid is worth your time.

Machines you will run

Tunnelling is heavy on kit. Depending on the method, that means a tunnel boring machine or roadheaders, tunnel excavators, wheel loaders, drilling jumbos, shotcrete machines, and a steady line of tippers hauling muck out. Add batching plants, transit mixers, boom placers and crawler cranes. Can’t bid the main package? There is still work here. Owners of tippers, transit mixers and dewatering pumps can hire out to whoever wins.

Key facts

How to apply

1. Open the official portal: Central Public Procurement Portal.
2. Search by tender ID 2026_NHAI_281329_1 (reference no. NHAI/Delhi/NH-148AE/Tunnel/2026) under National Highways Authority of India — RO Delhi.
3. Register and keep a valid Class III Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) ready.
4. Download the NIT, tender document and BOQ, and check the eligibility, EMD and fee terms.
5. Prepare and submit your bid online before 18 Aug 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Tender details are summarised for convenience and may change. Always verify the latest dates, terms and documents on the official tendering portal before bidding.