NHAI's Connectivity Boost: Bengaluru-Chennai to NH 75

he National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is exploring the construction of an 18-km road to connect the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway (within Karnataka) to the Bengaluru-Kolar Highway (NH 75).

This project aims to improve access for motorists traveling towards border areas of Andhra Pradesh, including key destinations like Chittoor and Tirupati, while also creating the potential for toll collection from expressway users. NHAI had previously opened a 68-km stretch of the expressway in Karnataka without implementing tolls, as construction work in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu is still in progress. Currently, this stretch is primarily used by motorists traveling between Hoskote and KGF (Bethamangala). However, the absence of a continuous route forces them to divert onto village roads after leaving the expressway.

An NHAI official noted, "While the expressway is open, there is no end-to-end connection. Our plan is to upgrade district roads and village roads by linking the expressway with NH 75, from Sundarapalya to the Mulbagal side. This would benefit a larger number of users and provide the necessary foundation for toll collection, as we would be offering connectivity to major destinations."

The newly opened stretch is already seeing daily traffic between 1,800 and 2,000 vehicles, with the number steadily increasing. NHAI has requested technical details from the Kolar district executive engineer to assess the feasibility of the proposed road upgrades.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.