Bengaluru: The much-anticipated Bengaluru–Chennai Expressway — its 263km spanning three states — is still under implementation, with the full corridor likely to open in early 2027. The project, once targeted for completion by 2024 and later by June 2026, has faced pending forest clearances, land acquisition hurdles and financial constraints faced by contractors.At present, Karnataka segment of the highway is a 72km stretch between Hoskote and KGF. This has been fully operational for nearly a year. Other two segments — 85km in Andhra Pradesh and 106km in Tamil Nadu — have a completion rate of 92% and 80%, respectively. This means the promise of seamless high-speed travel remains unrealised for at least one more year.
Once complete, the expressway, which has been designed for speeds up to 120kmph, is expected to slash travel time between Bengaluru and Chennai from around six hours to just over two. Now, the widely used road from Bengaluru to Chennai runs through Hosur, Krishnagiri, Vellore and Kancheepuram. It takes 6-7 hours to cover the 340km distance.Given the significant cut in travel time by road, expectations had soared when Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari inspected the project site in Hoskote, near Bengaluru, in Jan 2023 and announced a 2024 completion target. Despite the assurance, only a partial stretch has been opened so far, leaving motorists waiting for the faster, smoother inter-city commute that was promised.Progress has hit a major roadblock on the 25.5km Arakkonam–Kancheepuram stretch in Tamil Nadu, where work has come to a standstill. Informing Lok Sabha, Gadkari said financial constraints faced by the concessionaire led to work being halted in May 2025. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued a notice to terminate the contract. As per a court directive, senior lenders have proposed to substitute the concessionaire through a letter dated Jan 20, 2026.“Being a greenfield corridor project, the expressway can be commissioned after completion of all packages, including the Arakkonam–Kancheepuram stretch,” the minister stated. He added the slow progress was primarily due to the concessionaire’s financial difficulties. As of now, no other major issue was affecting the project. “(After the substitution of the concessionaire by senior lenders), the balance work would be completed,” he said, noting delays in forest clearance, land acquisition challenges, hard-rock formations and unseasonal rainfall had impacted overall progress.NHAI sources indicated that while most remaining stretches may be completed by June 2026, the commissioning of the entire corridor could slip to early 2027. “By March 2027, the full stretch of the expressway is likely to be commissioned,” a source said.Inset – 1Toll fee loweredEffective Feb 15, NHAI revised toll on the 70km Hoskote-KGF stretch to bring it on par with rates applicable to NH sections. Earlier, the toll was 25% higher than that of standard National Highways. The new-fare arrangement will continue for one year or until completion of the expressway project. The Karnataka NH stretch sees 8,000 vehicles and toll collection of ₹14 lakh a day. The link road from Sundarapalya to the Bengaluru–Kolar highway is in progress.Inset 2 (For infographic)BENGALURU – CHENNAI EXPRESSWAYProject Status | Total Length: 263.5 kmProject Cost: ₹17,692 croreTotal Completed: 234.9 kmBalance Pending: 28.6 kmDesign Speed: 120 kmphInset – 3STATE-WISE PROGRESSKARNATAKA – 71.7 kmHoskote – Bethamangala71.7 km completed and operationalStatus: 100% completeANDHRA PRADESH – 85 kmBethamangala – Byreddypalli (25 km) – CompletedByreddypalli – Bangarupalem (31 km) – 24.5 km completedBangarupalem – Gudipala (29 km) – CompletedTotal Completed in AP: 78.5 km out of 85 kmCompletion: 92%TAMIL NADU – 106 kmGudipala – Walajahpet (24 km) – 24.3 km completedWalajahpet – Arakkonam (24.5 km) – 24.3 km completedArakkonam – Kancheepuram (25.5 km) – 11 km completedKancheepuram – Sriperumbudur (31.7 km) – 25.4 km completedTrumpet Interchange, Sriperumbudur (1.1 km) – Not completedTotal Completed in TN: 84.7 km out of 106 kmCompletion: 80%OVERALL PROGRESS263.5 km across three States234.9 km completed28.6 km pendingSource – Lok Sabha
