Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway: No Toll Yet On 68-km Stretch; Karnataka Section Open for Public Use

A major stretch of the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway is now open for traffic in Karnataka, though not officially inaugurated yet. The 68-km section between Hoskote and KGF (Bethamangala) is already being used by around 1,600 to 2,000 vehicles daily, according to a Times of India report. Since toll collection hasn't started, vehicles can exit through village roads to reach Mulbagal and the Andhra Pradesh border.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has completed 68 km of the 71-km Karnataka section. The remaining 3 km is expected to be ready by the end of the year, in sync with the progress of the expressway's Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu sections.

Once fully completed, the 260-km expressway will link Bengaluru to Sriperumbudur near Chennai, passing through Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. As per a Hindustan Times report, the four-lane highway is designed for speeds of up to 120 kmph. The ₹17,900-crore project, South India's first greenfield expressway, is expected to slash travel time between Bengaluru and Chennai from seven hours to just three.

The expressway connects with the Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR), which runs from Dabaspet to Hoskote via Doddaballapur and Devanahalli, providing better access for commuters from Tumakuru Road and Bengaluru-Hyderabad Road. To further improve connectivity, NHAI has invited tenders to extend the STRR from Dabaspet to the Tamil Nadu border.

The Karnataka section was developed in three phases: Hoskote to Malur (27.1 km), Malur to Bangarpet (27.1 km), and Bangarpet to Bethamangala (17.5 km). All three phases are now operational, making travel easier and faster.

The Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway is set to improve connectivity, reduce congestion, and boost economic activity by enabling quicker transport of goods and people. With final touches underway, the expressway is on track to transform travel between the two cities.