The anticipated Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway project has faced further delays, with the anticipated completion now scheduled for the period between December 2025 and July 2026. Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari shared this information in Parliament on Friday. The project was originally initiated in 2022 with the goal of completion by 2023, but has experienced several postponements. Responding to a query from Bengaluru Central MP PC Mohan, Gadkari stated that only 100.7 km of the total 263.4 km has been completed thus far. The project, with an estimated cost of Rs 15,188 crore, is currently facing a delay exceeding three years. Examining the progress by state, in Karnataka, 71.7 km of the route has been completed, running from Bengaluru to Bethamangala. The section from Sundarapalya to Baireddipalli is anticipated to be finished by December 2025. In Andhra Pradesh, 29 km of the project, specifically the Bangarupalem to Gudipalla stretch, has been completed. The remaining link from Baireddipalli to Bangarupalem is expected to be finalized by June 2026. In Tamil Nadu, the Gudipalla to Walajahpet (24 km) and Walajahpet to Arakkonam (24.5 km) sections are likely to be completed by October 2025. The Arakkonam to Kanchipuram (25.5 km) work may be completed by March 2026, and the Kanchipuram to Sriperumbudur (31.7 km) stretch by December 2025. Gadkari cited land acquisition complexities, delays in obtaining necessary state government approvals, and technical issues as the primary causes for the delays. In Karnataka, land acquisition delays, difficulties providing adequate compensation for affected properties, and public opposition were major factors. In Tamil Nadu, there were delays in acquiring permissions for technical tasks like rock cutting and blasting. In Andhra Pradesh, the process of acquiring permission to commence construction in the environmentally sensitive Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary posed a challenge. The completion of this high-speed expressway is projected to reduce travel time between Bengaluru and Chennai to under four hours, significantly less than the current 6-7 hours. It is also expected to streamline transportation and logistics, bolstering economic and social ties between Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Despite some local criticisms and concerns about the recurring delays, the central government has reiterated that the project is a high priority and will be completed expeditiously with the support of state governments.
