**Executive Summary**
This document is a response from the Minister of Road Transport and Highways to unstarred question number 222, dated January 29th, 2026, regarding the completion of the Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway. It addresses delays, land acquisition issues, and road safety concerns related to the expressway project, with a revised timeline for completion set for 2026. The response also outlines actions being taken to address the identified issues and maintain existing roads.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Sriperumbudur–Karapettai Six-Laning Project (NH-48):**
* The project faced delays due to the termination of the BOT Concession Agreement in 2016 following defaults by the concessionaire.
* Balance works were awarded in three separate packages.
* EPC mode work was hindered by non-supply of Pond/Fly Ash needed for embankment.
* 17.2 km has been completed, and the remaining 16.8 km was awarded through a fresh bidding process.
* Work on the remaining portion commenced on January 27, 2025, with a scheduled completion in October 2026. 20% physical progress has been achieved.
* **Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway (Tamil Nadu Portion):**
* Phase-III of the Bangalore-Chennai Expressway, involving 106 Km (94 Km in Tamil Nadu and 12 Km in Andhra Pradesh) was taken up on Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) under 4 Packages.
* Initial delays were due to land acquisition, utility shifting (including EHT lines/towers), railway clearances, and forest clearances, but these issues have been resolved.
* Three packages (80.2 km) are approximately 90% complete and are expected to be finished by July 2026.
* Work on the remaining package (25.5 km) has been stopped since May 2025 due to financial constraints of the concessionaire; a substitute concessionaire is being sought.
* **Road Safety and Maintenance:**
* The existing road is being maintained in traffic-worthy condition.
* Traffic diversions are in place due to ongoing construction, causing some inconvenience.
* Fresh overlay on the service road portion is complete to ensure smooth traffic flow.
* All major crossroads are being provided with crossing structures (VUP, PUP, Flyover, Grade Separator) to facilitate safe pedestrian and vehicle crossing.
* Locations identified as black spots due to repeated accidents are being provided with suitable crossing structures.
**Impact Analysis**
**Commuters/Road Users:**
* **Impact:** Experience traffic diversions and potential inconvenience due to ongoing construction. However, they will benefit from improved road safety, smoother traffic flow, and reduced accident rates upon completion.
* **Action Required:** Be aware of traffic diversions and construction activity, and exercise caution while traveling through the affected areas.
**National Highways Authority of India (NHAI):**
* **Impact:** Responsible for ensuring the timely completion of both projects within the revised timeline of 2026 and for overseeing the resolution of issues such as land acquisition and concessionaire substitutions.
* **Action Required:** Continue monitoring project progress, address any remaining issues, and ensure the timely completion of the expressway projects.
**BOT Concessionaire(s):**
* **Impact:** One BOT Concessionaire has had their agreement terminated due to defaults, and a new concessionaire is being sought for the remaining package.
* **Action Required:** The existing concessionaires should continue with work, while the remaining one must proceed to substitution process.
**Local Communities:**
* **Impact:** May face temporary inconvenience due to construction activities but will benefit from improved connectivity, reduced traffic congestion, and enhanced road safety upon project completion.
* **Action Required:** No immediate action required, but awareness of construction and potential traffic disruptions is advised.
Key Entities Referenced
Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway: A major expressway project connecting Chennai and Bengaluru, with specific focus on land acquisition, utility shifting, and construction progress.
National Highway-48: Specifically the Sriperumbudur-Karapettai stretch in Tamil Nadu, facing delays in its six-laning project.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI): The implementing agency for the highway projects mentioned, responsible for ensuring their completion.
Tamil Nadu: The Indian state where a significant portion of the projects is located, particularly concerning land acquisition and construction delays.
Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT): A mode of project implementation used for the NH-48 project, later facing issues with the Concessionaire.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 222
ANSWERED ON 29TH JANUARY, 2026
COMPLETION OF CHENNAI-BENGALURU EXPRESSWAY
222. DR. T SUMATHY ALIAS THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the six-laning of the Sriperumbudur–Karapettai stretch of National
Highway-48 (17 km) in Tamil Nadu costing rupees 341 crore has faced
repeated delays following termination of contracts and if so, the details
thereof;
(b) whether the 106 km Tamil Nadu portion of the Chennai–Bengaluru
Expressway is lagging due to issues relating to land acquisition, utility and
railway line shifting, if so, the details thereof;
(c) the steps being taken by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to
ensure completion of both projects within the revised timeline of 2026;
(d) whether inadequate maintenance of the affected stretches has contributed
to traffic congestion and accidents and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the details of corrective measures and timelines fixed to improve road
safety and ease inter-city travel between Chennai and Bengaluru?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) The work of six-laning of Sriperumbudur – Karaipettai section of NH-48 was
part of 6-laning project of Poonamalle-Walajahpet section of NH-48 and taken
up on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT)-Toll mode in 2012. Due to defaults on the
part of BOT Concessionaire, the Concession Agreement was terminated in
2016, and the balance works were awarded in 3 separate packages.The work of Sriperumbudur – Karaipettai section, taken up on EPC mode
could not be completed mainly due to non-supply of Pond/Fly Ash at the site by
the Thermal Power Plants as it was required for embankment of the scope of
the work related to construction of approaches of crossing structures, viz.
Vehicular Underpasses (VUPs), Pedestrian Underpasses (PUPs), Flyovers, etc.
Out of total 34 Km, 17.2 Km has been completed and the balance work in
16.8 Km has been awarded through fresh bidding process at a cost of
Rs.341.50 Crore on 07.11.2024. The work commenced on 27.01.2025 with
scheduled completion in October 2026. As on date, 20% physical progress has
been achieved. Efforts are being made to complete the project as per
schedule.
(b) & (c) Phase-III of Bangalore – Chennai Expressway, involving 106 Km (94
Km in Tamil Nadu and 12 Km in Andhra Pradesh) was taken up on Hybrid
Annuity Mode (HAM) under 4 Packages.
During the initial period of the work, there were issues relating to land
acquisition, shifting of utilities, especially Extra High Tension (EHT)
lines/towers, railway clearances, forest clearance, etc. All these issues have
since been resolved and as on date, no such issue is pending.
Out of total 4 packages, work is in progress in 3 packages (80.2 Km) with
physical progress around 90% and likely to be completed by July 2026. Work in
the remaining package (25.5 Km) has stopped since May 2025 due to financial
constraints of the Concessionaire. Substituting the Concessionaire is under
process.
(d) & (e) The existing road is being maintained in traffic worthy condition.
However, due to ongoing construction of structures, the traffic on the main
carriageway is diverted through service road / diversion road causing
inconvenience to the traffic. Fresh Overlay on the service road portion has
already been completed for smooth movement of traffic.
Further, along with 6-laning work, all major crossroads are provided with
suitable crossing structures, viz. VUP, PUP, Flyover, Grade Separator, etc.,
which will facilitate safe crossing of pedestrians and vehicles across the NH.
In the case of locations identified as Black Spots due to repeated accidents,
are provided with suitable crossing structures.
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