Chennai–Bengaluru Expressway hits roadblock: Rs 15,000-crore dream project stuck in legal mess

The ambitious 263km Chennai–Bengaluru expressway, launched in 2019, is far from completion. Initially scheduled for 2023, it now faces a long delay, with progress stalled on several stretches. The ₹15,000 crore corridor, aimed at cutting travel time to just three hours, is unlikely to be operational before mid-2026.
(Picture credits: Ramesh Shankar)

A 25km section between Arakkonam and Kancheepuram has come to a standstill due to a dispute between the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and its contractor. The contractor moved the Madras high court over the soaring cost of fly ash used for embankment work, freezing all progress.
(Picture credits: Ramesh Shankar)

The builder challenged NHAI, citing that inflated fly ash costs made the project unviable. Though the court initially ruled in NHAI’s favour, the firm has appealed, prolonging the impasse. Officials said only about 14km of work is pending, which could be completed in months if the issue is resolved.
(Picture credits: Ramesh Shankar)

Once complete, the six-lane access-controlled expressway will provide a seamless high-speed link between Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. It is expected to cut the Chennai–Bengaluru travel time from six hours to just three, boosting regional connectivity and trade.
(Picture credits: Ramesh Shankar)

Union minister Nitin Gadkari has mentioned multiple deadlines in Parliament, but all have been overshot. Officials blame court cases, land hurdles, and supply issues. Despite continuous monitoring, progress has been slow across most Tamil Nadu stretches.
(Picture credits: Ramesh Shankar)

The 24.5km Walajapet–Arakkonam stretch missed its October target as bridge works dragged on. Engineers say minor civil works and safety installations are still incomplete. The new deadline is likely to be revised to early next year if all approvals come through.
(Picture credits: Ramesh Shankar)

Contractors argue that if thermal plants sold fly ash directly to builders instead of intermediaries, costs could be halved. The material’s top grade, priced at ₹550 per tonne, is mostly diverted to cement factories. Eliminating middlemen could speed up highway projects, they say.
(Picture credits: Ramesh Shankar)

Of the 94km passing through Tamil Nadu, several portions are far from ready. The Gudipala–Walajapet section in particular remains incomplete, with the crucial railway overbridge still under construction. Barely 300 metres of work is left, but it has lingered for months.
(Picture credits: Ramesh Shankar)

Sources say a cartel of middlemen is controlling the supply of fly ash from Ennore Thermal Power Station, pushing up rates steeply. The material, vital for road embankments, is now being sold at nearly ₹10,000 per truckload, raising costs and delaying work.
(Picture credits: Ramesh Shankar)

The Arakkonam–Kancheepuram section, originally due in March 2026, has now been pushed to July 2026. Meanwhile, work on the Kancheepuram–Sriperumbudur segment, which was supposed to finish this December, still has 6km pending.
(Picture credits: Ramesh Shankar)