NH-48 Sriperumbudur–Karaipettai six-laning and Bengaluru–Chennai Expressway Phase-III progress update

The six-laning of the Sriperumbudur–Karaipettai stretch of NH-48 forms part of the Poonamallee–Walajahpet six-laning project, originally awarded on BOT (Toll) mode in 2012. Following defaults by the concessionaire, the concession agreement was terminated in 2016 and the remaining works were split into three separate packages.

The Sriperumbudur–Karaipettai section was later taken up on EPC mode but faced delays mainly due to the non-availability of pond/fly ash from thermal power plants, which was required for embankment works at vehicular underpasses, pedestrian underpasses, flyovers and other crossing structures. Of the total 34 km length, 17.2 km has been completed. The balance 16.8 km was awarded through a fresh bidding process at a cost of Rs 341.50 crore on 7 November 2024. Work commenced on 27 January 2025 and is scheduled for completion by October 2026. As of now, around 20% physical progress has been achieved, and efforts are underway to complete the project as per schedule.

Phase III of the Bengaluru–Chennai Expressway, covering 106 km including 94 km in Tamil Nadu and 12 km in Andhra Pradesh, is being executed under Hybrid Annuity Mode through four packages. Initial challenges related to land acquisition, utility shifting, extra high tension lines, railway approvals and forest clearances have been fully resolved. Work is currently progressing in three packages covering 80.2 km, with physical progress of around 90%, and these sections are expected to be completed by July 2026. Construction in the remaining 25.5 km package has been halted since May 2025 due to financial constraints of the concessionaire, and the process of substitution is underway.

The existing road is being maintained in traffic-worthy condition. However, due to ongoing construction of structures, traffic has been diverted through service roads or temporary diversions at several locations, causing inconvenience. Fresh overlay works on service roads have already been completed to ensure smoother traffic movement.

Alongside the six-laning works, all major junctions are being provided with appropriate crossing structures such as vehicular underpasses, pedestrian underpasses, flyovers and grade separators. Accident-prone black spots are also being addressed through dedicated safety structures to ensure safer movement for both pedestrians and vehicles along NH-48.