National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has finalised plans to widen the Bengaluru–Kolar stretch of National Highway 75 (NH-75) into a ten-lane express corridor. The expansion is being driven by surging freight movement from the eastern industrial belts of Karnataka and the mounting traffic pressure faced by daily commuters along this arterial route.
The upgraded highway will feature six main lanes dedicated to express traffic, flanked by two-lane service roads on either side. This design is expected to streamline traffic flow between Bengaluru and Kolar, particularly for long-haul freight vehicles accessing industrial hubs like Narasapura. The corridor will cover a critical 69 km stretch from Hoskote, located 32 km east of Bengaluru, to the Andhra Pradesh border at Kolathur. This segment integrates with major infrastructure links, including the Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR) and the partially operational Bengaluru–Chennai Expressway. According to senior NHAI officials, the primary aim of the project is to address chronic traffic bottlenecks and reduce commute times, particularly in choke points such as the KR Puram–Hoskote segment. The Hoskote toll plaza alone currently witnesses over 45,000 vehicle crossings per day, making it one of the busiest highway nodes in the region. With the necessary land already in possession, construction activity is expected to commence without delays.
Officials also confirmed that the expressway will include access-controlled entry and exit points to ensure smoother vehicle flow and safety. A long-pending elevated corridor at KR Puram is also under active consideration, subject to clearances, which would further decongest this critical segment of the highway. The project is particularly significant given the strategic location of Kolathur, which will act as a junction point for vehicles transitioning from Karnataka into Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. A 7 km link road from Kolathur will connect directly to the expressway, leading into Tamil Nadu via a trumpet interchange on the STRR. This junction is expected to become a high-traffic zone for both inter-state commuters and industrial freight movers.
An official closely associated with the planning process noted that “this integrated corridor will transform the regional logistics landscape by reducing travel times, enhancing connectivity to industrial nodes, and offering long-term support for Karnataka’s economic growth.” In parallel, the long-delayed Katamanallur flyover, located on the same corridor, is nearing completion. Currently 85% complete, the 800-metre structure has already opened to partial traffic and is expected to be fully operational in the coming months. Officials confirmed that this flyover, once complete, will play a vital role in eliminating a major bottleneck for vehicles entering the Bengaluru urban zone from Hoskote.
In addition, the 20 km stretch of the expressway connecting Hoskote to Tamil Nadu, near Hosur, is in its final stages of development. With full operations expected by August, this connection is poised to offer uninterrupted access from Bengaluru’s periphery into Tamil Nadu, dramatically reducing the logistical friction for southern trade routes. Urban planners and mobility experts have welcomed the move, noting that the ten-lane configuration is both forward-looking and necessary to accommodate future growth in vehicular volume. The Kolar region is home to multiple industrial clusters, and the new expressway is anticipated to unlock enhanced mobility for cargo shipments and intercity travel alike.
Experts also caution, however, that the long-term success of the express corridor will depend on effective implementation of access control, regular maintenance, and integration with multimodal transport strategies. “As India modernises its highway infrastructure, it is vital to ensure sustainable traffic management that accounts for last-mile connectivity, environmental impact, and urban integration,” said a senior urban mobility analyst. The expansion of NH-75 is aligned with the Centre’s broader vision of upgrading the National Highway network under the Bharatmala Pariyojana. This policy push aims to enhance logistics efficiency, reduce transportation costs, and promote regional economic development through better road infrastructure.
For Bengaluru, which has long struggled with overburdened roads and infrastructure lags, this initiative marks a pivotal shift. The NH-75 upgrade will not only decongest a major commuter and freight artery but also improve linkages with emerging townships and satellite industrial areas in Karnataka’s eastern corridor. While construction work is likely to cause short-term disruptions, the long-term gains for mobility, commerce, and regional integration appear substantial. Authorities have assured that traffic management plans will be deployed to minimise inconvenience during the construction phase.
With all clearances underway and engineering plans nearing finalisation, the Bengaluru–Kolar expressway project is poised to become a model of regional highway development, promising smoother drives, faster cargo movement, and a stronger foundation for future urban and industrial expansion.
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