Bengaluru - Chennai Expressway: Fresh ₹633 Crore Tender for Stalled Arakkonam - Kancheepuram Stretch

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has invited fresh bids to complete the stalled 25.5-km Arakkonam-Kancheepuram stretch of the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway (BCE). The balance works are estimated to cost ₹633.12 crore.

The fresh EPC tender covers the section between Km 204.500 near Arakkonam and Km 230 in Kancheepuram district. The successful contractor will have 18 months to complete the remaining works, followed by a five-year maintenance period.

The development is significant as most of the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway is either complete or nearing completion. However, the Arakkonam-Kancheepuram section had achieved only 53% physical progress, with 11.03 km completed, when the concessionaire stopped work in May 2025, citing financial constraints.

NHAI subsequently issued a notice of intention to terminate the contract in November 2025. The matter reached the Madras High Court, which directed NHAI in January 2026 to maintain the status quo on the termination.

However, the case was disposed of on August 20, 2026, with the court holding that concessionaire DB Jain was eligible to receive fly ash free of cost, along with transportation. The court partly allowed the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway appeal and declared the project eligible for free fly ash and transportation.

The concessionaire`s claim for reimbursement, including the ₹180.17 crore claimed by DB Jain, was left to the Dispute Resolution Board or, if necessary, the arbitral tribunal under the concession agreement.

Major Works Pending on Arakkonam-Kancheepuram Stretch

The 25.5-km Arakkonam-Kancheepuram package involves considerably more than road construction. The balance works include:

- Nine major bridges

- One railway overbridge

- Two grade separators

- Two minor bridges

- 18 vehicular and non-vehicular underpasses

- 44 box culverts

The project alignment passes through 17.4 km in Ranipet district and 8.1 km in Kancheepuram district. It begins near Karnavoor in Arakkonam taluk and ends at Parandur revenue village in Kancheepuram taluk.

The alignment also crosses a Southern Railway line at Km 223+761, adding to the project`s infrastructure requirements.

Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway Specifications

The Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway is being developed as a four-lane, fully access-controlled expressway. The technical specifications prescribe a minimum design speed of 120 kmph for plain and rolling terrain.

The latest status submitted by the Union government to the Lok Sabha shows that the Karnataka portion of the expressway is complete, while substantial sections in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are also nearing completion.

Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway: State-Wise Status

Karnataka

Bengaluru-Malur: 27.1 km – Complete

Malur-Bangarpet: 27.1 km – Complete

Bangarpet-Bethamangala: 17.5 km – Complete

Andhra Pradesh

Bethamangala-Byreddypalli: 25 km – 99% complete

Byreddypalli-Bangarupalem: 31 km – 93% complete; due October 30

Bangarupalem-Gudipala: 29 km – Complete

Tamil Nadu

Gudipala-Walajahpet: 24 km – 99% complete; remaining work scheduled by August 31

Walajahpet-Arakkonam: 24.5 km – 98% complete; remaining work scheduled by August 31

Arakkonam-Kancheepuram: 25.5 km – 53% complete; fresh ₹633.12 crore EPC tender floated with an 18-month completion period

Kancheepuram-Sriperumbudur: 31.7 km – 89.97% complete; due October 31

Arakkonam-Kancheepuram Stretch Remains Key Bottleneck

With the fresh contract providing an 18-month construction period, the Arakkonam-Kancheepuram stretch is likely to remain the last major bottleneck to the full operationalisation of the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway.

The completion of this section will be crucial to ensuring seamless connectivity along the entire Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway, which is being developed to provide faster and more efficient road connectivity between Bengaluru and Chennai.