Imagine starting from Bengaluru after breakfast and reaching Chennai just in time for an early lunch. What today feels like a long and tiring 5- to 6-hour drive will soon become a quick 2-hour journey. Thanks to the Bengaluru Chennai Expressway, one of South India’s biggest road projects, this dream is now inching closer to reality.
Bengaluru Chennai Expressway To Be Completed By July 2026
The new expressway is 262 km long and is being built at a massive cost of ₹15,188 crore. It will cut down the travel distance by 80 km compared to the existing route. Vehicles will be allowed to travel at 120 km per hour, which means the drive will not only be faster but also smoother and more enjoyable, Times Now reported. For regular travellers, this is nothing short of a game-changer.
Currently, most people spend nearly half a day travelling between the two cities. Once this road opens, Bengaluru and Chennai will feel much closer. making travel for work, family visits, or even weekend trips far more convenient.
This expressway was first launched in 2022 with a promise of being completed by 2023. But like many big projects, it has faced several hurdles and delays. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari recently confirmed that the new target is July 2026. So far, only about 100 km of the total 263 km has been completed. The remaining stretches are under construction in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
The 71.7 km Bengaluru–Bethamangala stretch in Karnataka is already finished, and by December 2025, a further 25 km section from Sundarpalya to Byreddypalli should be ready, according to Times Now reports. Andhra Pradesh’s 31 km Byreddypalli–Bangarupalem stretch will be finished by June 2026, while the 29 km Bangarupalem–Gudipala stretch is already finished. In Tamil Nadu, the four sections are yet to be completed.
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Why Has It Been Delayed So Much?
The road to building this expressway has not been easy. Each state has faced its own challenges. While land acquisition and disputes over compensation delayed the progress in Karnataka, in Tamil Nadu, workers had to cut through very hard rock formations. In Andhra Pradesh, permissions took longer, especially for a 10 km stretch inside the eco-sensitive Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary, as per Times Now reports.
Despite the delays, there’s no doubt that this project will be a game-changer for South India. Cutting travel time from six hours to just two will bring enormous benefits, not just for regular travellers, but also for businesses in both states.
The Bengaluru Chennai expressway won’t just reduce kilometres on the map; it will bring two great cities within easy reach of each other.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva/NirutiStock (Representative Image)
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