Bengaluru Chennai Expressway Karnataka Section Ready 2025
The Karnataka section of the Bengaluru–Chennai Expressway, one of India’s most anticipated greenfield corridors, is set for full completion by December 2025. Officials confirmed in Parliament that three packages in Karnataka have already been completed, while the final stretch within the state, connecting Bethamangala to Byreddipalli on the Andhra Pradesh border, will be finished next year.
The 262-km National Expressway 7, linking Hoskote near Bengaluru with Sriperumbudur near Chennai, is now slated for completion by December 2026, two years later than its original target. Once operational, the six-lane expressway is expected to cut travel time between the two cities to under three hours, halving current journey durations and significantly easing congestion on NH-44 and other arterial routes.
Officials cited several reasons for the delay, ranging from land acquisition hurdles and disputes over compensation to the relocation of utilities and religious structures. Public resistance over access points and service roads also slowed progress, while heavy transmission lines further complicated the work. Experts noted that such obstacles reflect broader challenges in highway development across India, where land and local sensitivities often clash with infrastructure timelines. Despite these hurdles, the Karnataka portion of the project has moved faster than some stretches in neighbouring states. While 71.7 km across three packages has already been opened to traffic since late 2024, tolling is yet to begin. The National Highways Authority of India said collections will commence once all four toll plazas in Karnataka are integrated into the digital payment system, with motorists expected to pay about ₹2.5 per kilometre, along with options for monthly passes.
Officials underlined that the expressway contracts were awarded under the Hybrid Annuity Model, a financing structure where contractors must recover part of their investment through tolls. Industry experts argue that timely toll integration is critical, as infrastructure assets cannot remain idle without revenue recovery. For commuters, the expressway promises not only faster travel but also safer and greener mobility. By diverting traffic away from existing routes, the corridor is expected to reduce fuel wastage from long traffic snarls, cut emissions, and improve road safety standards. Urban planners believe it could transform regional growth patterns, boosting industrial hubs along its alignment and unlocking new opportunities for the logistics sector.
Still, the project has faced criticism for repeated deadline extensions, with commuters voicing frustration over prolonged wait times for promised efficiency. Officials maintain that once complete, the expressway will deliver long-term economic and environmental benefits that far outweigh the delays. As work advances towards the December 2026 deadline for the full corridor, Karnataka’s near-complete section signals a crucial milestone in reshaping mobility between two of South India’s most important cities.
