Bengaluru–Chennai Expressway in Tamil Nadu Nears Completion, Key Stretch Faces Delay

The Bengaluru–Chennai Expressway, one of South India’s most ambitious greenfield highway projects, is steadily moving towards completion in Tamil Nadu, offering hope of faster and smoother travel between the two major cities. Except for one problematic stretch, work on the access-controlled four-lane expressway is expected to be completed by June or July this year, according to officials from the National Highways Authority of India.

The Tamil Nadu portion of the expressway spans 105.75 km and is being executed in four packages. Construction between Gudipala and Walajahpet is almost complete, while the Walajahpet–Arakkonam stretch is also nearing the finishing line, with only a rail overbridge left to be built. Officials said the removal of a railway building that obstructed the alignment has now cleared the way for the remaining work.

Progress, however, has been uneven on the Arakkonam–Kancheepuram section, which has emerged as the biggest bottleneck in the project. Of the 25.5 km stretch, only about 11 km has been completed so far. NHAI sources said the contractor handling this package has been significantly slower compared to others, prompting the authority to issue an intention-to-terminate notice. The matter later went to court, where the High Court directed NHAI to provide the contractor another opportunity to explain its position, further delaying fresh progress on the ground.

In contrast, work on the Kancheepuram–Sriperumbudur stretch has advanced well, with most of the alignment already ready. Adding to the momentum is the construction of a major trumpet interchange at Sriperumbudur. This large-grade separator will allow seamless movement for vehicles travelling to and from Vellore, Kancheepuram and Chennai. The ₹122-crore interchange project, which began in August 2024, is expected to be completed this year, with precasting work for most girders already finished.

Once operational, the Bengaluru–Chennai Expressway is expected to drastically cut travel time between the two cities and ease congestion on the existing national highway. While delays in one section remain a concern, steady progress elsewhere suggests the project is entering its final and most crucial phase.