Mukundara Hills Tunnel faces waterlogging due to design flaws

The 4.9-km Mukundara Hills Tunnel, part of India’s Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, has experienced significant waterlogging and seepage following heavy rainfall. The tunnel, which runs beneath the Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan, was recently opened on a trial basis.

An official from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) admitted that the original design assessment failed to account for the volume of water entering the tunnel during extreme weather. NHAI project director Sandeep Agrawal stated that the installed pumping capacity was insufficient to handle the seepage.

Authorities are currently working to enhance the pumping capacity to rectify the technical issue. The incident has prompted renewed scrutiny regarding the planning, design, and execution of NHAI infrastructure projects.