Lok Sabha Question No. 222 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-01-29
Subject: Completion of Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian

## 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.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 222

ANSWERED ON 29 TH  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

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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