New Delhi (Agency): Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, announced that the Bengaluru-Chennai Express Highway will be operational either by the end of this year or by January 2024. Speaking at the 75th anniversary of Ashok Leyland Limited in Chennai, Gadkari mentioned that the progress of various National Highways projects in Chennai has been reviewed.
“We are developing 36 green express highways, and we are connecting Chennai to Delhi. The Bengaluru-Chennai express highway will start by this year-end or January 2024,” Gadkari stated. He also highlighted that the new route will make it possible for luxury buses and sleeper coaches to operate, reducing ticket prices by approximately 30% due to lower fuel costs.
In his address, Gadkari also discussed ongoing projects in other parts of India. He said that 70% of work on the Zoji-la Tunnel, which is set to be Asia’s longest tunnel at 11.8 km, is already complete. “We are in the process of making 18 tunnels from Sri Nagar to Jammu, out of which 14 tunnels have already been completed,” he added. The plan also includes connecting Delhi to southern cities like Chennai, Kanyakumari, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kochi through an access-controlled highway project.
In July, Gadkari mentioned that the central government aims to construct about 13,800 km of National Highways during the fiscal year 2023-24. Of this target, 2,250 km has already been completed as of June 2023. He also affirmed that the quality of construction material used now is better than in the past, mentioning examples like high-strength concrete and steel.
India has seen a significant expansion in its network of National Highways under the current government. The total length of these highways has increased by about 59% in the past nine years. As a result, India now has the second-largest road network in the world, following the United States.
The Bengaluru-Chennai Express Highway is part of a broader initiative to enhance connectivity and promote economic activities. The new highway will not only make travel more efficient but also lower the cost for commuters, potentially boosting trade and tourism between the two major cities.
