About
The Chennai-Bangalore Expressway (CBE) — also designated as part of the Bengaluru-Chennai Industrial Corridor (BCIC) — is a 262 km greenfield four-lane access-controlled expressway connecting south India's two largest metropolises. Sanctioned in 2018 and under construction since 2021, the expressway will dramatically reduce Bengaluru-Chennai travel from 7 hours (NH-48 via Krishnagiri) to 2.5 hours.
The alignment is fully greenfield — cutting a fresh corridor through the Eastern Ghats foothills, bypassing the densely populated coastal corridor. NHAI executed the project in 5 packages totalling ₹16,700 crore, with L&T, Megha Engineering, Dilip Buildcon, and PNC Infratech sharing the construction.
Design features include: 4-lane (2+2) main carriageway with 80 m ROW provision for future 8-lane upgrade, design speed 120 km/h, 4 toll plazas, integrated rest areas every 60 km with fuel + EV charging, and 8 wildlife corridors through the Eastern Ghats migration zones (Bandipur and Mudumalai connectivity). A 4 km elevated section near Hoskote bypasses the Bengaluru international airport approach zone.
The expressway is the first major segment of the broader 2,000 km Bengaluru-Chennai Industrial Corridor (BCIC) — a Japan-India bilateral initiative for industrial development along the corridor. Phased opening planned from late 2024 (Bengaluru-Hoskote section) through 2026 (full Chennai connection).
Cross-references
14Indian Standards, IRC codes, and InfraLens knowledge articles that bear on this project's design and execution. Each link opens the relevant reference page.
Related calculators
4InfraLens calculators most relevant for expressway projects.
Notable features
- South India's longest expressway when complete
- Greenfield alignment through Eastern Ghats foothills
- Cuts Bengaluru-Chennai travel from 7 hrs to 2.5 hrs
- 8 wildlife corridors through Eastern Ghats migration zones
- Integrated EV charging at every 60 km rest area
- First leg of broader Bengaluru-Chennai Industrial Corridor (BCIC, ₹2 lakh crore)