Bangalore Vijayawada Expressway to Link Cities in 5 Hours, 624 km Corridor See Fast Progress

The Bangalore Vijayawada Expressway (NH544G), connecting Bengaluru and Vijayawada, has already set a new benchmark in India's road sector, even as construction continues. In the first half of January 2026 itself, the project achieved four Guinness World Records. This accomplishment, carried out under the guidance of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), has drawn international attention.

Although the 624-kilometre-long Bengaluru-Vijayawada Expressway is still under construction, the speed and scale of the project have already become a topic of discussion. Officials estimate that once completed, travel time between the two states will reduce significantly, and commercial goods transport will become more efficient.

Details of Guinness World Records

Four Guinness World Records were achieved in a single week during the construction of a stretch near Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh. These records were set through continuous work during the first and second weeks of January 2026. The project execution is handled by Rajpath Infracon, with NHAI providing technical guidance.

For the first record, the construction team laid 28.89 lane-kilometres of bituminous concrete in just 24 hours. During the same period, they used 10,655 metric tonnes of bituminous concrete, achieving the second record. This double achievement drew praise from global experts.

On January 11, two more Guinness World Records were added. The third record was set by laying 57,500 metric tonnes of bituminous concrete continuously. The fourth record was achieved by completing asphalt work over 156 lane-kilometres in a single operation.

Previously, the global record for continuous construction was 84.4 lane-kilometres. The Bengaluru-Vijayawada Expressway project has surpassed that record by a wide margin.

Record Summary
Lane-kilometre asphalting: 28.89 lane-km in 24 hours
Bituminous concrete used: 10,655 metric tonnes in 24 hours
Continuous bituminous laying: 57,500 metric tonnes
Total lane-kilometres completed: 156 lane-km in one operation

Route, Design and Cost

The Bengaluru-Vijayawada Expressway is one of the key projects under Phase 2 of the Bharatmala Pariyojana. The 624-kilometre route begins at Devanahalli near Bengaluru in Karnataka and reaches Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh via Kadapa and Addanki.

The total project cost is estimated between ₹14,000 crore and ₹19,320 crore. About 343 kilometres are being built as a greenfield route on entirely new land, while the remaining stretch is being upgraded from existing highways under the brownfield model.

Travel Time and Economic Benefits

Once operational, the six-lane access-controlled expressway is expected to significantly reduce travel time. Currently, the journey from Bengaluru to Vijayawada takes around 11 to 12 hours. After completion, it could be reduced to about 5 to 6 hours.

This means nearly 50% time savings, with vehicles able to travel at speeds of up to 120 km/h under controlled conditions. Reduced fuel consumption will lower costs for trucks, buses, and private vehicles, and may also contribute to reducing India's overall logistics costs.

Impact on Industry and Agriculture

The expressway is set to create a new economic corridor in southern India. It will improve connectivity to the Kopparthy Industrial Node in Kadapa and major ports along coastal Andhra.

This will enable smoother movement of agricultural produce, industrial machinery, IT equipment, and other goods. Reduced transport time and cost could attract more investments to both Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, making the project a strong pillar for economic growth.

Thousands of workers and engineers contributed to achieving these Guinness records. The project involved coordinated operations using 70 tipper trucks, 5 hot mix plants, 1 paver, and 17 roller machines.

Work continued in shifts even at night, following strict quality standards. Despite the massive scale of bituminous laying, technical checks were carried out at every stage. Maintaining quality at such speed has impressed global experts.

The achievement has received widespread appreciation across the country. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu praised the project, calling the pace of road construction a symbol of a "New India." He said, "This is not an American road, this is a highway of New India. Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari's vision and speed of construction are exemplary for the world."

In the past, large infrastructure projects in India often faced delays, with costs escalating two to three times. Land acquisition issues, lack of political will, and administrative delays were major hurdles.

However, in the last decade, the use of modern technology, strict quality control, and improved project monitoring have transformed the sector. Projects like the Bengaluru-Vijayawada Expressway are now nearing completion on schedule, with some even achieving global records.

According to the construction schedule, the Bengaluru-Vijayawada Expressway is expected to be fully open to the public by 2027. Beyond reducing geographical distance, it is expected to boost trade, employment, and tourism across southern India.