Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway: Get Ready To Pay Toll Fees - Know How Much Here

The unofficial entry and exit on the 70-km Karnataka segment of the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway will soon end as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is gearing up to collect toll charges.

Thus ending free access for daily commuters. The stretch, unofficially opened in February, runs from Hoskote to Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) and is the first expressway in Karnataka.

Check Toll Rates

Motorists will now have to pay ₹150 for a one-way trip and ₹225 for a return journey for cars, while heavy vehicles could be charged up to ₹520 (one-way) and ₹780 (round trip), according to a report in The Times of India.

The expressway features three interchanges-Malur, Bangarpet, and Bethamangala-where tolls will range between ₹55 and ₹150, depending on the entry and exit points. An NHAI official told the English daily that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has already notified tolling for this stretch, and collection will begin once administrative formalities are completed.

Cars: ₹150 (one-way), ₹225 (return trip)

Heavy vehicles: Up to ₹520 (one-way), ₹780 (round trip)

Interchanges (Malur, Bangarpet, Bethamangala): ₹55 to ₹150

NHAI officials stated that tolling will begin after procedural formalities are completed and local authorities are notified.

Project Status & Traffic Impact

Current daily traffic: 2,000-2,500 vehicles

Full expressway completion delayed to June 2026 (originally August 2025) due to construction delays in Andhra Pradesh (91 km) and Tamil Nadu (94 km).

Karnataka portion (76 km) operational since December 2024.

₹20 crore allocated to upgrade 18 km of connecting roads for better expressway access.

Safety & Restrictions

Banned vehicles: Two-wheelers, autos, tractors (though illegal bike usage persists).

Speed limit: 120 km/h for cars; NHAI has implemented safety measures after multiple fatal accidents.

"The road is designed for a speed of 120 kmph for cars. We've implemented road safety measures and jurisdictional police have stepped up enforcement," said an NHAI official.

Though the full 261-km expressway-spanning Karnataka (76 km), Andhra Pradesh (91 km), and Tamil Nadu (94 km)-was initially slated for completion by August 2025, delays have pushed the deadline to June 2026. Currently, only the Karnataka portion is operational, attracting 2,000 to 2,500 vehicles daily.

To improve access, NHAI has allocated ₹20 crore to upgrade 18 km of connecting roads near the Bengaluru-Kolar highway, which is expected to boost traffic once completed.

Safety Concerns and Restrictions

Despite a ban on two-wheelers, autorickshaws, and tractors, illegal bike usage has raised safety concerns, with several fatal accidents reported due to speeding. NHAI has enforced stricter measures, including a 120 km/h speed limit for cars and increased police patrols.

Once tolling begins, the expressway- a ₹17,000-crore greenfield project-will enter its next phase, promising faster travel and economic growth along the Bengaluru-Chennai corridor.