The 106-km Tamil Nadu stretch of the Bengaluru–Chennai Expressway faces delays due to the relocation of high-voltage power lines. The project, originally set for completion last year, is now expected to be finished by June 2025.Officials said the main challenge is a 25.5-km section between Arakkonam and Kancheepuram, where 400 kV towers managed by TANTRANSCO block about 4.5 km of the route. Of the 102 towers needing relocation, 80 have been shifted, while 22 are delayed due to legal disputes over land.
The ₹17,000-crore, 262-km expressway will link Hoskote in Karnataka to Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu. Vehicles can travel at 120 kmph, cutting Bengaluru–Chennai travel time from seven hours to three. It is also expected to reduce traffic on the congested Chennai–Bengaluru bypass by nearly 25%.
Progress has been uneven across states. The 71-km Karnataka stretch opened in December 2024. In Tamil Nadu, about 80 km is ready, with the Gudipala–Arakkonam section nearly complete except for a road overbridge. The Arakkonam–Kancheepuram stretch is 50% done, while Kancheepuram–Sriperumbudur has reached 70%. In Andhra Pradesh, 68 km of the 85-km section is completed.