Chennai–Bengaluru Expressway Delayed Again: ₹15,000-Crore Project Stuck in Legal Dispute

The flagship Chennai–Bengaluru Expressway project, launched in 2019 to drastically cut travel time between the two major cities, has hit a major roadblock. The ₹15,000-crore, 263-km access-controlled expressway—originally slated for completion in 2023—has been severely delayed due to legal and financial hurdles.

Work Stalled on Crucial 25 km Stretch

A major setback has occurred on the Arakkonam–Kancheepuram stretch, where construction has come to a complete halt. The contractor assigned to this segment approached the Madras High Court, claiming that the rising cost of fly ash—an essential material for embankment construction—made the project financially unviable.

Although the court initially ruled in favour of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the contractor has appealed the decision, prolonging the dispute. Officials say only around 14 km of work remains on this stretch and could be completed quickly once the legal battle ends.

Mid-2026 Completion Expected

Despite multiple revised timelines announced by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in Parliament, the project is now unlikely to be operational before mid-2026.

Officials attribute the delays to:

• Ongoing court cases
• Land acquisition hurdles
• Material supply issues across Tamil Nadu stretches

Even with consistent monitoring and intervention, progress remains slow in several segments.

A Transformative Project—Once Completed

Once finished, the six-lane expressway will:

• Reduce Chennai–Bengaluru travel time from six hours to just three
• Improve connectivity between Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh
• Boost trade, logistics, and regional economic activity

However, until the legal impasse is resolved, the expressway remains stuck on paper rather than progressing on ground.