Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway: 65% Of Work On 105.7 km Project Completed; 34 Bridges, 6 Toll Plazas On Track

The construction of the four-lane, access-controlled Greenfield Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway is progressing steadily, with approximately 65% of the work completed. The ambitious ₹17,000 crore project spans a total of 105.7 km across several districts, including Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Vellore, and Ranipet. Once fully operational, the expressway will connect Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu to Gudipala in Andhra Pradesh, before heading toward Bengaluru, significantly improving travel time between the two cities.

The expected completion date for the Karnataka stretch of the project is 2025, sources from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) told leading English daily. This route is poised to shorten the distance between Bengaluru and Chennai, saving valuable time for daily commuters.

The most advanced section of the expressway is the 24.50 km stretch from Walajapet to Arakkonam, which has seen the highest percentage of work completed. Civil works in this area have already cost ₹662.7 crore, with an additional ₹20.46 crore spent on utility shifting. Similarly, around 70% of the 24-km stretch from Gudipala to Walajapet has been completed. In contrast, the fourth package-covering the 31.007 km route from Kancheepuram to Sriperumbudur-has seen 64% of the work finished.

The third package, running from Arakkonam to Kancheepuram, is currently the least progressed, with only 52% of the work completed so far. Engineers working on the project highlight that land acquisition has not been an issue since the project is a greenfield venture, with the route primarily passing through open lands. However, shifting electricity towers that were in the path of the expressway has posed challenges, requiring approvals from the relevant authorities.

Once completed, the expressway will include 34 major bridges and 31 minor bridges, covering a combined total length of 15 km. The longest bridge will span an impressive 840 meters. Additionally, six toll plazas will be strategically placed along the route to manage traffic flow.

This project is expected to drastically reduce travel time between Bengaluru and Chennai, making it a key infrastructure development for both states.