Tumakuru Highway Widening to 6 Lanes Delayed Until March 2027
Commuters using the Nelamangala–Tumakuru National Highway will have to wait longer for smoother travel, as officials have revised the completion timeline for the ongoing six-lane widening project. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced that the two-lane service roads will now open by June 2026, while full carriageway expansion on the 44.04-kilometre stretch of NH-48 is scheduled to finish only by March 2027. Despite work resuming in April this year after a prolonged halt, the extended timeline continues to frustrate daily travellers.
The road project was launched in August 2022 with the goal of converting the existing four-lane route into an access-controlled six-lane corridor, easing congestion and reducing travel time between Bengaluru and Tumakuru. Initial plans prioritised service road construction so traffic could be diverted, but the execution stalled due to severe land acquisition delays. Land gaps at 35 sites, compensation disputes, and missed acquisition notifications collectively halted the contractor’s progress. Although some issues have since been resolved, work is now behind its original August 2025 service road deadline. Authorities say that most land acquisition hurdles have now been cleared, enabling contractors to resume operations with a renewed schedule. Still, local commuters remain dissatisfied, pointing to the prolonged inconvenience and safety risks of navigating unfinished stretches.
Many residents argue that while infrastructure development is welcome, it must be better coordinated to reduce disruption, especially along such a vital transport corridor. The stretch between Nelamangala and Tumakuru serves as a major link to central and northern Karnataka, making any delays more acutely felt by daily users. Experts also note that this project highlights broader concerns over land acquisition policy, compensation clarity, and inter-agency coordination in India’s road development ecosystem. Even as timelines shift, the absence of temporary solutions—such as safer diversions or better signage—has compounded commuter distress. With each delay, public trust in civic planning is eroded, reinforcing calls for transparent project timelines and community involvement from inception to execution.
Moving forward, residents hope that the new deadlines will be met without further disruption. Officials must not only accelerate construction but also ensure safety and accessibility in the interim. Large-scale infrastructure investments are critical to regional growth, but without inclusive planning and consistent updates, even well-intended projects risk alienating the very people they’re meant to benefit.
