Chennai: The completion of the much-anticipated Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway faces significant delays, particularly in the Tamil Nadu section, due to protracted challenges in relocating high-voltage power transmission towers. The Rs 17,000 crore greenfield project, which promises to cut travel time between the two metropolitan cities from six hours to just three, is now expected to be fully operational only by June 2026, missing several earlier deadlines. The delay stems primarily from technical and legal obstacles in moving critical electricity infrastructure along the Arcot-Kanchipuram stretch.
Once completed, the 262-km, four-lane access-controlled expressway will allow vehicles to travel at 120 kmph and is designed for future expansion to eight lanes. While a 71-km segment in Karnataka from Hoskote to Petthamangala was opened to traffic in December 2024, progress in Tamil Nadu’s 106-km segment has been sluggish. Officials confirm that 80 km in Tamil Nadu have been completed, but the remaining portions are hampered by infrastructural and legal issues.
Relocation of Power Towers and Legal Challenges Slow Progress
A major impediment to the project’s timely completion is the relocation of 102 high-voltage transmission towers owned by the Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation (TANTRANSCO). These towers, which form part of a critical 400 kV DC power link between Kanchipuram and Ranipet substations, intersect with the expressway alignment across a 4.5 km stretch. Although 80 towers have been successfully moved, the remaining 22 are entangled in land acquisition disputes and technical setbacks.
“Relocating high-voltage towers is not like land acquisition,” explained a project official. “It involves identifying new land, rerouting high-capacity lines, and overcoming significant engineering challenges.” Complicating matters further, some landowners have approached the courts to oppose land acquisition for the new tower locations. These legal battles have introduced uncertainty and delay, hampering efforts to complete the power infrastructure shift efficiently.
State-Wise Progress and Broader Implications
The expressway’s construction progress varies significantly across the three states it traverses. In Andhra Pradesh, the 85-km stretch through hilly terrain is advancing slowly, with 68 km completed so far. In Tamil Nadu, the segment is subdivided into four segments: Gudipala-Walajapet, Walajapet-Arcota, Arcota-Kanchipuram, and Kanchipuram-Sriperumbudur. Approximately 95% of the Gudipala-Arcota segment is complete, pending only a flyover across a busy railway line.
The Arcot-Kanchipuram segment—where the tower relocation issue is most acute—is only 50% complete, while the Kanchipuram-Sriperumbudur section is 70% finished. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials emphasized that the expressway’s complex design requires substantial resources and meticulous execution at every stage. Once operational, the corridor is expected to divert 20-25% of traffic from the existing Chennai-Bengaluru highway, easing congestion and enhancing regional connectivity for commuters and freight transporters alike.