This document provides a brief history and overview of tunnels and underground spaces in India. It discusses some of the earliest underground structures like the Ellora Caves from 600-1000 CE and Burzahom underground dwellings from 3000-500 BCE. It then highlights several important tunnels in India's history, including secret tunnels at Amber Palace from the 15th century, the Saranda tunnel constructed in 1891, the Parsik Tunnel which took 10 years to construct from 1906-1916, the Jawahar Tunnel which opened in 1956, the Natuwadi Tunnel which is the second longest in Maharashtra at 4.3 km, and the New Katraj Tunnel in Pune measuring 1338 meters.

1. History Of Tunnel &
Underground Spaces in India

3. Introduction
� A tunnel is an underground passageway, dug through surrounding soil,
earth or rock, and enclosed except for the entrance and exit, commonly at
each end.
� A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a
canal.
� Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for
hydroelectric stations or are sewers.
� Secret tunnels are built for military purposes, or by civilians for smuggling of
weapons, contraband, or people.

4. Contents
1. Ancient Phase
2. Middle Phase
3. Middle Phase to Present Phase
❑ Tunnel & Underground Spaces in India

5. Ellora underground Caves
• Ellora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in
the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra,India.
• It is one of the largest rock-cut Hindu temple cave complexes in
the world, with artwork dating from the period 600–1000 CE
• 100 caves at the site.

6. Burzahom Underground
Dwelling
● Underground structure in India at
Burzahom archaeological site in
Kashmir.
● Built around 3000 and 500 B.C.
● Used as dwelling pits providing
excellent protection against
cold and severe winter weather
as well as the heat of summer.
● Cut into the compacted loess
deposits.

7. Amber Palace, Jaipur
● Amer fort has a secret tunnel that
connects it to the Jaigarh fort. 1.5
km tunnel has many stairs and
ramps to make the way more easier
and complex.

8. Saranda tunnel
● Entrance of UP Saranda Tunnel-
CKP end. Existing 472 m long Up
tunnel was constructed in 1891.

9. PARSIK TUNNEL .
● Parsik Tunnel is a 1.31678 km
(0.81821 mi) long electrified dual-
line railway tunnel located in Parsik
Hill to the east of Thane,
Maharashtra
● The GIPR started construction of
this tunnel in 1906, it took time 10
years to construct the tunnel and
opened at the year 1916.

10. JAWAHAR TUNNEL
● Jawahar Tunnel, also called Banihal
Tunnel is a road tunnel in Indian
union territory of Jammu and
Kashmir. Named after the first
Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal
Nehru, it was constructed for round-
the-year surface transport between
1954 and 1956.
● The Jawahar tunnel has been
operational since 22 December
1956. The length of tunnel is 2.85
km (1.77 mi). It has one lane road in
either direction.

11. NATUWADI Tunnel
● NATUWADI Tunnel is 4.3
kilometres long Tunnel that was
constructed in 1997
● Natuwadi Tunnel is the second
longest and darkest tunnel in
Maharashtra and is a a part of
Konkan Railway.

12. Katraj Tunnel
● The New Katraj Tunnel is a highway
tunnel located on the NH 48
(formerly NH 4), Pune, in
Maharashtra state of India.
● It is a three-laned tunnel which
stretches up to 1338 metres on
Katraj Ghat.
● The Tunnel was constructed using
NATM (New Austrian Tunnelling
Method). It was opened on 15
December 2006 by Chief Minister
Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh.

16. Reference

17. Thank You