A major capacity expansion is being planned for one of south India’s most heavily used intercity corridors, with the National Highways Authority of India advancing proposals to widen the northern approach of Bengaluru into a high-speed, multi-lane expressway-linked highway. The project, spanning Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, is expected to significantly alter freight movement, commuter patterns, and real estate development along the Bengaluru–Hyderabad axis. The proposal centres on a substantial upgrade of National Highway 44 between Devanahalli, on Bengaluru’s northern edge, and Kodikonda near the state border. Infrastructure planners indicate that the existing four-lane road will be reconfigured into a 10-lane highway, including a six-lane access-controlled main carriageway, forming a critical feeder into the upcoming Bengaluru–Kadapa–Vijayawada expressway network.
For Bengaluru, the move signals a strategic shift in how the city connects with eastern and northern growth regions. After improved access to Chennai via the Hoskote corridor, attention has now turned to strengthening links toward Andhra Pradesh’s industrial and port-driven economy. Urban planners say the Bengaluru Hyderabad highway expansion is not just about speed, but about redistributing economic activity beyond congested city cores. Once operational, the integrated corridor is expected to cut travel time between Bengaluru and Vijayawada by nearly half, easing logistics costs for manufacturing, agriculture, and e-commerce supply chains. Industry experts note that faster eastbound connectivity could enhance the competitiveness of Bengaluru’s peripheral industrial zones, particularly around Devanahalli, Chikkaballapura, and logistics clusters near the airport.
Officials involved in project planning indicate that detailed assessments are nearing completion, with construction likely to begin from the Devanahalli side, where land availability is relatively higher. While most of the land parcels are already under public ownership, select locations will require additional grade-separated crossings to resolve rail and traffic bottlenecks a recurring challenge in highway modernisation projects across India. Beyond mobility, the Bengaluru Hyderabad highway expansion carries implications for urban form and sustainability. Transport economists caution that large road projects must be aligned with land-use controls to avoid unchecked sprawl, while environmental planners stress the importance of safe crossings, lighting, and median barriers to reduce accident risks on high-speed corridors.
Safety upgrades, including continuous barriers and extended lighting near interchanges, are being factored into the design, reflecting rising concerns over accident-prone stretches near Bengaluru’s airport zone. Integration with the Satellite Town Ring Road is also expected to divert long-haul traffic away from city roads, improving liveability for surrounding residential areas. As India accelerates expressway construction, projects like this will test whether speed-led infrastructure can also deliver equitable, climate-aware urban growth balancing economic efficiency with safer, more resilient city edges.
