India's Underground Construction: Tunnels for Growth

Tunnels are fast becoming the lifelines of India's infrastructure growth — unlocking mobility, economic development, and engineering innovation beneath the surface.
R.K. Dhiman, AVSM, VSM, President, Tunnelling Association of India (TAI)

India’s underground construction industry is undergoing a seismic transformation. Driven by rapid urbanization, strategic infrastructure needs, and technological advances, the nation is tunnelling through mountains, rivers, and mega cities at an unprecedented pace. From metro systems and highway tunnels to hydropower conduits and strategic storage caverns, subterranean projects are reshaping how India connects, commutes, and conserves. As the world’s third-largest metro network expands and game-changing tunnels like Zojila and Atal bring remote regions into the national fold, India is emerging as a global leader in tunnelling excellence. This article explores the surge in underground construction, the cutting-edge technologies driving progress, and the critical challenges that lie ahead.