When you drive from Bengaluru to Chennai today, the route via Hosur, Krishnagiri, and Ranipet covers approximately 340 kilometres and takes five to six hours through commercial and industrial traffic, toll plazas, and grade-level junctions. The Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway — National Expressway 7 (NE-7) — is being built to change that arithmetic. At 262 kilometres, it will be 80 kilometres shorter than the existing highway and will reduce the journey to approximately three hours at a design speed of 120 km/h.
The project is being developed by NHAI under the Bharatmala Pariyojana at a cost of approximately ₹17,000 to ₹18,000 crore. It runs from Hoskote near Bengaluru in Karnataka to Sriperumbudur near Chennai in Tamil Nadu, passing through Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu across three states. The Karnataka section — all three Phase 1 packages totalling 71 kilometres — was completed and opened on December 9, 2024, making that stretch immediately available to traffic.
The remaining sections are in active construction across Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The 72-km stretch from Bengaluru to Bethamangala is complete, as is the 29-km Bangarupalem-to-Gudipala section. Among pending stretches, the Byreddypalli-to-Bangarupalem section (31 km, Andhra Pradesh) is the last to complete with a revised target of June 2026. Most Phase 2 and Phase 3 packages are at 80 to 90 percent completion as of early 2026, with the entire expressway expected to be fully functional by mid-2026.
The expressway also promotes the Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor — a national programme aimed at boosting manufacturing investment across its route states.
Bengaluru Chennai Expressway Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Official Name | Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway (National Expressway 7 / NE-7) |
| Maintained By | NHAI |
| Length | 258–263 km |
| Lanes | 4-lane (expandable to 6 by 2037, 8 by 2041) |
| West End | Hoskote, Bengaluru North District, Karnataka |
| East End | Sriperumbudur, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu |
| States Covered | Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu |
| Programme | Bharatmala Pariyojana (Hybrid Annuity Model) |
| Project Cost | ₹17,000–₹18,000 crore |
| Karnataka Section (Phase 1) | 71 km — opened December 9, 2024 |
| Overall Completion Target | Mid-2026 (final AP section: June 2026) |
| Design Speed | 120 km/h |
| Travel Time on Completion | ~3 hours (vs current 5–6 hours) |
| Distance Saved | ~80 km shorter than existing NH-75 route |
| Key Industrial Corridor | Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor |
| Sriperumbudur | End-point near Chennai’s largest manufacturing hub |
| AP Section Status | Byreddypalli stretch (31 km) — last to complete, target June 2026 |
Route and Location
The expressway starts at Hoskote’s interchange northeast of Bengaluru and runs eastward through Kolar district’s granite landscape, crosses into Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor district through the Deccan plateau, and enters Tamil Nadu at Ranipettai district before terminating at Sriperumbudur near Chennai — the industrial township that hosts Samsung, Nokia, Hyundai, and Foxconn manufacturing facilities.
Connectivity
The expressway connects Bengaluru’s eastern IT and industrial fringe at Hoskote to Chennai’s western manufacturing hub at Sriperumbudur — two of south India’s most commercially active industrial corridors. At Sriperumbudur it connects to Chennai’s national highway and port network. The Chennai Port-Maduravoyal Expressway serves as a spur from the expressway into central Chennai.
Nearby Areas
Kolar Gold Fields — India’s historic gold mining district near the expressway’s Karnataka section — is one of India’s most significant industrial heritage sites. Vellore Fort and the CMC Vellore medical complex are accessible from the Tamil Nadu section. Sriperumbudur itself, where former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in 1991, carries historical weight alongside its contemporary industrial identity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is the Bengaluru Chennai Expressway?
A: NE-7 — a 258 to 263 km, four-lane access-controlled expressway from Hoskote (Bengaluru) to Sriperumbudur (Chennai) through Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Cost: ₹17,000 to ₹18,000 crore.
Q2. Which section of the Bengaluru Chennai Expressway is open?
A: The 71 km Karnataka section (Phase 1) opened December 9, 2024. Several AP and TN packages are 80 to 90% complete as of early 2026.
Q3. When will the Bengaluru Chennai Expressway fully open?
A: Mid-2026 — with the last Andhra Pradesh section (Byreddypalli stretch) targeted for June 2026.
Q4. How much will the expressway reduce travel time?
A: From 5 to 6 hours to approximately 3 hours — at a design speed of 120 km/h.
Q5. How many lanes will the Bengaluru Chennai Expressway have in the future?
A: Currently 4 lanes, planned to expand to 6 by 2037 and 8 by 2041, mirroring the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway’s expansion model.