• Source:JND
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The Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway's inauguration, which was scheduled to take place in December this year, will face delay as a major part of the Tamil Nadu section of expressway remains unconstructed. Earlier, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the highly anticipated Chennai-Bengaluru expressway by the end of 2024, however, the Tamil Nadu stretch remains incomplete, with only 15 per cent of construction progress recorded.  

While the 72-km Karnataka section is ready, the 106-km Tamil Nadu segment, extending from Irungattukottai near Chennai to Gudipala near the Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh border, faces delays despite full land acquisition. This portion is now projected to be completed by mid-2025. 

The expressway aims to reduce travel time between Bengaluru and Chennai to two hours via an access-controlled, four-lane highway with speeds up to 120 km/h. However, Tamil Nadu has yet to integrate the necessary linkages, unlike Karnataka, which connected its segment to the Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR).  

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Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway: Tamil Nadu Section

In Tamil Nadu, the Irungattukottai-Walajapet stretch bypasses major towns to improve goods movement, especially for trucks servicing Chennai Port. A 129-crore trumpet interchange at Irungattukottai is under construction to link the expressway with NH-4, which will further facilitate port connectivity once the Chennai Peripheral Ring Road (CPRR) is completed.  

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Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway Details 

The Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway, spanning 268 km across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, is being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 17,930 crore. Initially slated for completion in March, the project faced delays due to land acquisition, environmental clearances and coordination challenges among state authorities.  

When completed, the expressway, also known as National Expressway 7 (NE7), will connect Hoskote in Bengaluru Rural to Sriperumbudur near Chennai, enhancing regional connectivity and bolstering the transport network. The entire stretch is expected to be operational by mid 2025.