News Brief
V Bhagya Subhashini
Nov 14, 2024, 04:17 PM | Updated 04:19 PM IST
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The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has completed the construction of a 72-kilometre section of the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway within Karnataka, marking a key milestone for the 262-kilometre corridor set to significantly reduce travel time between the two cities.
However, the new road is not yet open to motorists as authorities await a decision on the official launch. The project, which faced delays due to a prolonged dispute over relocating a religious structure in Jinnagara, saw a breakthrough last week.
For over two years, the NHAI had been in discussions with local villagers and government officials regarding the relocation of the Guddamma Temple. The temple, located on a small hillock along the expressway route, was successfully shifted, allowing the final 500 meters of road to be completed, reports Times Of India.
Integration and Accessibility
This newly completed expressway section has already been linked to the operational 82-kilometre Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR), connecting Dabaspet to Hoskote.
The Karnataka stretch features key entry and exit points at Malur, Bangarpet, and Bethamangala, enabling motorists to cover the stretch in approximately 40 minutes.
In addition, NHAI plans to extend connectivity by constructing an 18-kilometer road linking Bethamangala to Mulbagal, enhancing access for travelers heading towards Mulbagal.
The expressway also includes a significant cloverleaf junction at Hoskote, facilitating smooth transitions for vehicles from Bengaluru, the STRR, and National Highway 75.
Meanwhile, in Kolathur, residents have requested an underpass, with ongoing discussions about addressing this demand in a separate infrastructure project.
Increased urbanisation along the highway has led to traffic congestion on Old Madras Road, with bottlenecks at points like TC Palya, Battarahalli, and Medahalli. To alleviate these issues, NHAI has proposed a 15-kilometre flyover project from KR Pura to the Hoskote cloverleaf, a plan currently under review following a draft detailed project report submitted to the headquarters.
Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway
The 262 km-long Bengaluru-Chennai expressway is being built at a cost of nearly Rs 18,000 crore and will pass through the states of Karnataka (72 km), Andhra Pradesh (84 km), and Tamil Nadu (106 km).
The expressway is being developed under the NDA government's flagship infrastructure scheme - Bharatmala Pariyojana. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid its foundation stone on 26 May 2022.
The four-lane, access-controlled road starts at Hoskote near Bengaluru, Karnataka, and terminates at Sriperumbudur near Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The expressway is being developed at the cost of Rs 16,500 crores.
The construction of the 262 km main carriageway is being executed in three phases . The expressway will feature 71 vehicle underpasses, overpasses, and light vehicular underpasses, three rail bridges, 31 major bridges, 25 minor bridges, 147 culverts, six toll plazas, and five interchanges. The highway would have two rest areas for use by travelers and two truck lay bays.
Once fully operational, the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway will cut the travel time between the two cities from over six hours to three, reducing the journey distance from 350 kilometers to 270 kilometers.
The expressway, built to support a maximum speed of 120 km per hour, is expected to become a vital corridor for commuters, boosting regional connectivity and economic development.
V Bhagya Subhashini is a staff writer at Swarajya. She tracks infrastructure developments.