Delhi clears plan for shared underground utility ducts

Delhi’s Cabinet has approved a proposal to build multi-utility ducts: shared underground corridors for electrical cables, water pipelines, gas lines, fire-hydrant networks and other essential services.

The Chief Minister’s Office said the ducts would be installed at suitable locations across the city. By placing several networks in one corridor, the plan aims to reduce repeated road excavation when separate utility agencies need to lay, maintain or expand their lines.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said Delhi’s roads are frequently excavated to meet separate agency requirements. She said shared corridors could reduce traffic disruption and inconvenience for residents while protecting road structure.

The government also expects the ducts to speed up maintenance and future expansion of underground networks, while reducing the risk of accidental damage to existing lines during excavation. The Cabinet-approved proposal does not specify locations, construction timelines or a rollout schedule.