Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, provided us with an exciting news commuting between Chennai and Bengaluru. He announced the development of a new Greenfield Expressway that is poised to dramatically cut down travel time between these two major cities to a just two hours. This announcement was made during the 75th-anniversary celebration of Ashok Leyland in Chennai.
The Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway project is part of a broader initiative that involves the 36 Greenfield Expressways across India. Nitin Gadkari stated, “In January next year, we will start the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway, where the duration of travelling between the two cities will be two hours.” This significant reduction in travel time opens up exciting possibilities, such as the introduction of luxury buses and electric sleeper coach buses that can offer a travel experience akin to business class. Additionally, these vehicles are going to be electric and therefore the ticket rates are expected to be lowered by 30%. Previously, the project’s completion time was estimated to be March 2024.
This project, referred to as the ‘new alignment,’ will link Hoskote in Bengaluru to Sriperumbudur in the Kanchipuram district, situated 40 km from Chennai. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation for this expressway project back in May 2022. Stretching a total of 262 km, the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway will go through the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. The expressway will consist of eight lanes that covers 240 km distance, with the remaining 22 km designed as an elevated stretch. To facilitate this massive project, around 2650 hectares of land have been acquired.
The construction of the expressway is well underway, progressing in three phases. The first phase encompasses a stretch of 62.6 km from Hoskote to Bethamangala in Karnataka. The second phase extends over 85 km, running from Bethamangala to Gudipala in Andhra Pradesh. Finally, the third phase spans a considerable 106 km, linking Gudipala to Sriperumbuddur in Tamil Nadu. In addition to this project, the Indian government has put forth proposals for the Bengaluru–Mangalore Greenfield Expressway and the Mangaluru–Chennai Expressway, both of which will go through Bengaluru.
Seizing the opportunity, Nitin Gadkari issued a call to the Indian automotive industry, urging them to start manufacturing methanol-powered trucks as an alternative fuel model. He stated the critical importance of embracing alternative fuel options to combat pollution effectively. As a preliminary step, Ashok Leyland buses in Bengaluru are presently operating on a blend of 15% methanol. Gadkari voiced his aspiration to introduce methanol-powered trucks and buses across the nation, thereby reducing the diesel imports.
This expressway project, aiming to establish a swift connection between Bengaluru and Chennai, reducing travel time to a just two hours, which represents a monumental leap in enhancing connectivity and streamlining commuting between these two major cities.