Chennai-Bengaluru expressway project stalls due to delay on stretch from Arakkonam to Kancheepuram

Except for the section running from Arakkonam to Kancheepuram, work on the four-lane access-controlled greenfield project to link Bengaluru and Chennai in Tamil Nadu is expected to be completed by June or July this year.

In the package from Walajahpet to Arakkonam, a rail overbridge is the only structure that has to be completed. “A building belonging to the railways, falling in the alignment, was removed a few days ago. The remaining work can be taken up now,” said a source in the NHAI.

The 105.75-km long portion of the expressway in the State is being constructed in four sections- Gudipala to Walajahpet (24 km, of which 23.85 km has been completed); Walajahpet to Arakkonam (24.5 km, of which 20.35 km is done); Arakkonam to Kancheepuram (25.5 km, of which only 11 km has been completed); and Kancheepuram to Sriperumbudur (31.7 km, of which 25.25 km is ready).

On the reason for the delay in the package from Arakkonam to Kancheepuram, a source in the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said that the contractor had been slower than the others in executing the project, which is why an intention to terminate the contractor had been issued to the company. However, the work is yet to commence.

An independent source in the know of the progress of the project said that the contractor had gone to court against the NHAI notice, and that the High Court had disposed the matter directing that the NHAI give the company one more opportunity in person to explain its position. “However, we do not see this happening in the near future,” the source said.

A retired NHAI official said the company, that was responsible for stalling the entire project, should not be given more time. “They seem to be dilly-dallying and unnecessarily delaying such an important project that will help decongest the present Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway. The section that runs via Karnataka is complete and the one via Andhra Pradesh too seems to be in an advanced stage,” he said.

Trumpet interchange progressing well Meanwhile, work to construct a trumpet interchange (a larger grade separator) at Sriperumbudur is progressing well. On completion, the six arms of the interchange will allow vehicles travelling from and towards Vellore, Kancheepuram and Chennai to access the expressway.

According to NHAI sources, work to construct the ₹122.03-crore facility, that will be 1.089 km long, started in August 2024 and is expected to be over this year. Around 25% of the work is done with pre-casting of 198 of the 221 girders completed by the contractor.