Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that the Bengaluru–Chennai Expressway will be opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August 2025.
The Karnataka part of the expressway, which is 71 km long, is almost finished. But a lot of work is still left in the Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu sections.
Completed stretches in Karnataka include:
- Hoskote to Malur (26.4 km) – built at a cost of ₹2,761.12 crore
- Malur to Bangarpet (27.1 km) – cost ₹1,496.30 crore
- Bangarpet to Bethamangala (17.5 km) – cost ₹1,047.63 crore
The only work left in Karnataka is removing a small hill to build a minor bridge.
In reply to a question from Rajya Sabha MP P. Wilson, Gadkari gave updates on the four packages of the project being built in Tamil Nadu.
Although he had earlier hoped the expressway would be ready by December 2024, current progress shows that August 2025 is a more practical date. One section in Andhra Pradesh may be completed by early 2026.
Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway -A Progress Update
| Package (Length) | Length(kms) | Coverage | Contractor | Completion% | Expected Completion Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karnataka Package 1 | 26 | Hoskote to Malur | Dilip Buildcon | 99 | Completed |
| Karnataka Package 2 | 27 | Malur to Bangarpet | Dilip Buildcon | 99 | Completed |
| Karnataka Package 3 | 18 | Bangarpet to Bethamangala | KCC Buildcon | 99 | Completed |
| Andhra Package 1 | 25 | Bethamangala to Baireddypalle | Montecarlo | 65 | 31.03.2025 |
| Andhra Package 2 | 31 | Baireddypalle to Bangarupalem | APCO Infratech | 45 | 17.06.2026 |
| Andhra Package 3 | 29 | Bangarupalem to Gudipala | Dilip Buildcon | 84 | 03.10.2024 |
| Tamilnadu Package 1 | 24 | Gudipala to Walajahpet | Montecarlo | 62 | 31.12.2024 |
| Tamilnadu Package 2 | 25 | Walajahpet to Arakkonam | KCC Buildcon | 78 | 30.11.2024 |
| Tamilnadu Package 3 | 26 | Arakkonam to Kancheepuram | DP Jain & Co. | 51 | 31.03.2025 |
| Tamilnadu Package 4 | 32 | Kancheepuram to Sriperambadur | Ramalingam Construction | 61 | 28.02.2025 |
| Total Expressway Length (Main Carriageway) | 262 | Hoskote To Sriperumbudur | |||
| Six Laning NH4 Sriperumbudur-Maduravoyal | 23 | Sriperumbudur-Maduravoyal | NHAI | 99 | 31.08.2024 |
| Maduravoyal-Chennai Port Elevated Expressway | 20 | Maduravoyal To Chennai Port | J Kumar Infraprojects | 1 | 20.05.2026 |
(Source: Swarajyamag)
In Tamil Nadu, a new 106 km greenfield expressway is being built and divided into four parts:
- Gudipala (Andhra Pradesh) to Walajapet
- Walajapet to Arakkonam
- Arakkonam to Kancheepuram
- Kancheepuram to Sriperumbudur
Work is moving ahead at different speeds. The stretch from Walajapet to Arakkonam is 78% complete, while Arakkonam to Kancheepuram is at 51%.
In Andhra Pradesh, work on three parts was delayed due to the need for environmental approvals.
In March 2023, the National Board for Wildlife gave permission to begin construction near a forest and wildlife area as part of Phase 2 of the project. This phase needed special clearance because the route goes through the Palamaner Reserved Forest, which is near the Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary. About 50 km of the road falls inside the eco-sensitive zone (within 10 km of a wildlife sanctuary).
Though the road doesn’t directly go through the sanctuary, it does pass nearby. It also cuts through Palamaner Reserved Forest, part of the Rayala Elephant Reserve. For this, around 54.64 acres of forest land were used.
Phase 2 is 85 km long, mostly in Andhra Pradesh, with a 5.5 km stretch in Karnataka. It starts near N.G. Hulkur village (close to Bangarpet in Kolar, Karnataka) and ends at Ramapuram village in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh.
Construction work for this phase has been given to Montecarlo Ltd., PCO Infratech Pvt. Ltd., and Dilip Buildcon Ltd.
This part of the expressway will include:
- 17 major bridges (one over a canal)
- 34 minor bridges
- 20 underpasses for vehicles
- 8 overpasses for vehicles
- 26 small vehicle underpasses
- 2 toll plazas
- 4 interchanges
Since the expressway crosses elephant routes at three spots in the Rayala Elephant Reserve, the NHAI has added special designs like elephant underpasses, culverts, and bridges to allow animals to move freely.
A survey with the Forest Department helped decide where to build these underpasses. To protect small animals too, minor bridges will be built across streams, and three-box culverts will be added for their movement.
The Wildlife Board has made it clear that the forest land taken must only be used for the expressway, not for any business use. All work must be done under the Forest Department’s supervision, with clear markings done before construction starts. Also, digging in nearby forest areas to collect soil is not allowed.
