Bengaluru-Chennai expressway completion pushed to 2026
The long-awaited Bengaluru-Chennai expressway, a key project designed to strengthen connectivity between the two major South Indian cities, will now be completed by July 2026. The Rs 15,188-crore expressway was originally scheduled for completion in 2023, but a series of delays has pushed the timeline back by more than three years.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari confirmed the revised deadline in Parliament while responding to a query raised by Bengaluru Central MP P.C. Mohan. So far, just 100.7 km — less than half of the planned 263.4 km — has been completed.
In Karnataka, the 71.7 km stretch between Bengaluru and Bethamangala has been finished, while in Andhra Pradesh, 29 km between Bangarupalem and Gudipala is ready. The 24 km stretch from Gudipala to Walajahpet in Tamil Nadu is expected to be operational by October this year. However, the crucial 57.2 km section between Arakkonam and Sriperumbudur near Chennai is unlikely to be completed before early 2026.
According to the ministry, land acquisition hurdles, valuation disputes over affected properties, and public resistance caused delays in Karnataka. Tamil Nadu faced challenges in obtaining clearances for land leveling and dealing with complex rock-cutting operations. In Andhra Pradesh, permissions are still awaited for work in a 10 km eco-sensitive zone within the Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary.
Once complete, the expressway will slash travel time and distance between Bengaluru and Chennai, providing a high-speed corridor expected to significantly boost trade, mobility, and regional development.
