India’s Second Longest Expressway Underway: Chennai–Surat Corridor to Cut Travel Time by 6 Hours

The Chennai–Surat Expressway, a massive ₹45,000-crore greenfield project, is rapidly taking shape as one of India’s longest and most strategic expressways. Stretches 1,271 kilometers, it will link Chennai in Tamil Nadu straight to Surat in Gujarat, cutting travel time between South and West India by six hours.

Developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the 8-lane access-controlled expressway ranks as India’s second longest road, following only the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. The new expressway will pass through six states Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat bypassing traffic congestion hotspots in metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.

Construction is well underway for all 14 proposed packages, with Package IV approaching completion. The expressway will be operational in full by 2027.

Abated to international standards, the Chennai–Surat corridor is designed to ease traffic on saturated corridors like NH-44 (Kashmir to Kanyakumari) and NH-16 (Chennai to Kolkata). In addition to quicker travel, it will be an economic boost by improving connectivity among industrial and economic centers along the corridor.

The expressway is an integral component of India’s long-term infrastructure and logistics master plan, ensuring the smooth flow of freight and connectivity between the southern and western parts of the nation.

The corridor, when completed, will revolutionize interstate connectivity, reduce the costs of logistics, and significantly increase trade and commerce in several sectors.

Key Facts:

• Length: 1,271 km
• States Covered: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat
• Approximate Price: ₹45,000 crore
• Target Date: 2027
• Decrease in Journey Time: ~6 hours
• Status Now: Ongoing; Package IV nearing completion

Chennai–Surat Expressway is not only a transport corridor but a forthcoming strategic economic lifeline.