Chennai, 25 July (H.S.): The Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway project has encountered significant hurdles in Tamil Nadu, causing delays in its completion. According to Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, the project's Phase-III segment, covering critical links from Gudipala to Sriperumbudur, is running behind schedule. The expressway, which aims to reduce travel time between Bengaluru and Chennai to just 2 hours, is facing challenges due to unseasonal rains, land acquisition issues, and design changes.

Replying to a question raised by Rajya Sabha member P Wilson, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highway Nitin Gadkari said that the expressway's Phase-III segment, covering critical links from Gudipala to Sriperumbudur, was running behind schedule.. The Gudipala to Walajahpet section, originally set for completion in May 2024, has recorded 86.22% progress so far and is now expected to be completed by October 2025. Persistent rainfall, delayed railway overbridge approvals, and hold-ups in borrow area permissions due to National Green Tribunal and Supreme Court restrictions have contributed to the delay. The Arakkonam to Kancheepuram stretch is faring worse, with only 53.56% of the work completed, and is expected to be finished by March 2026 due to compensation issues related to land and crop damage.

The Kancheepuram to Sriperumbudur section is 78.11% complete, but has also fallen behind due to intermittent rain, utility shifting delays, and borrow area clearance issues. This portion is now likely to be ready by December 2025. Meanwhile, the trumpet interchange linking the expressway to NH-48 near the Sriperumbudur toll plaza is facing significant delays, with only 18.82% of the work completed. The project has overshot its original August 2025 deadline due to design modifications and pending relocation of an Indian Oil pipeline

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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary