The Nelamangala-Tumakuru highway widening project in Karnataka faces significant delays, with the service road now expected by June 2026 and full completion by March 2027. Originally slated for earlier completion, the National Highways Authority of India’s project has been hampered by protracted land acquisition issues. This setback underscores the intricate challenges of large-scale infrastructure development and its direct impact on urban mobility and productivity for thousands of daily commuters.
The 44.04-kilometre stretch of National Highway 48, extending from the Nelamangala toll gate to Tumakuru, is undergoing a crucial transformation. The initiative, launched in August 2022, aims to expand the existing four-lane carriageway to six lanes and construct two-lane service roads on either side. This conversion into an access-controlled highway was strategically planned to first complete the service roads, diverting traffic to allow for smoother execution of work on the main carriageway. The vision was to enhance connectivity and facilitate more efficient movement of goods and people between Bengaluru and the central and northern parts of Karnataka.
However, the project encountered substantial roadblocks primarily due to unresolved land acquisition issues, leading to a six-month work suspension that ended in April this year. Officials indicate that land gaps persisted at 35 different points along the route. These complications arose from a confluence of factors, including inadequate compensation to landowners, certain properties not being initially included in official acquisition notifications, and resistance from affected landholders. Such protracted disputes forced the project contractor to temporarily halt construction, highlighting systemic challenges in large-scale public works.
The prolonged delays have translated into considerable frustration and inconvenience for thousands of daily commuters. Drivers, particularly those travelling regularly between Bengaluru and Tumakuru, continue to navigate a partially completed highway, leading to increased travel times, heightened fuel consumption, and significant daily stress. While the National Highways Authority of India asserts that most land-related issues have now been addressed and work has resumed, the revised timeline means that the promised relief of improved infrastructure will not materialise as originally anticipated, pushing the service road opening to mid-2026 and overall completion to March 2027.
This situation underscores the critical need for a more comprehensive and empathetic approach to infrastructure planning and execution. Ensuring fair and transparent land acquisition processes, coupled with proactive engagement with all stakeholders, is paramount for the seamless delivery of public projects. Such delays not only inflate project costs but also impede the development of sustainable and equitable urban and regional transport networks. Moving forward, a renewed focus on meticulous pre-planning and robust conflict resolution mechanisms will be essential to ensure that vital connectivity initiatives truly serve the larger interest of cities and their inhabitants, fostering efficient, zero net carbon mobility for all.
