Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway Faces Further Delays; Completion Now Projected for Mid-2026

The ambitious Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway project has been pushed back once again. The completion timeline is now estimated to be between December 2025 and July 2026. Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari disclosed this information in Parliament on Friday. Originally launched in 2022 with a completion goal of 2023, the project has experienced multiple delays. As stated by Gadkari, in response to a query from Bengaluru Central MP PC Mohan, only 100.7 km of the total 263.4 km has been finished. The project, budgeted at Rs 15,188 crore, is now facing a delay of over three years. The progress breakdown by state reveals that in Karnataka, 71.7 km of construction has been finalized between Bengaluru and Bethamangala. The section from Sundarapalya to Baireddipalli is expected to be finished by December 2025. In Andhra Pradesh, 29 km of the route, specifically from Bangarupalem to Gudipalla, is complete. The final link from Baireddipalli to Bangarupalem is projected to be completed by June 2026. In Tamil Nadu, the Gudipalla to Walajahpet (24 km) and Walajahpet to Arakkonam (24.5 km) stretches are anticipated to be done by October 2025. The Arakkonam to Kanchipuram (25.5 km) portion may be completed by March 2026 and the Kanchipuram to Sriperumbudur (31.7 km) stretch by December 2025. Several issues have contributed to the delays, as explained by Gadkari. These include complexities in land acquisition, delays in receiving approvals from state governments, and technical difficulties. In Karnataka, land acquisition issues, inadequate compensation for property owners, and public resistance have been primary factors. In Tamil Nadu, obtaining permissions for technical operations such as rock cutting and blasting caused setbacks. In Andhra Pradesh, gaining the go-ahead to initiate construction within the sensitive Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary has posed a challenge. Upon completion, the expressway promises to drastically cut travel time between Bengaluru and Chennai to under four hours, a significant reduction from the current 6-7 hours. It is also expected to enhance transport efficiency and logistics while strengthening economic and social links between Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Despite some local criticism and concerns surrounding the recurring delays, the central government maintains its strong commitment to the project’s timely completion and is working closely with the state governments.