Bengaluru-Vijayawada greenfield highway to cut travel time to 6-7 hours

Bengaluru: The proposed Bengaluru-Vijayawada Greenfield National Highway, a major economic corridor under the Centre’s Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase II, is expected to significantly improve road connectivity between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The six-lane, access-controlled expressway is being developed to reduce travel time, improve freight movement and strengthen economic links between the two states.

At present, a road journey between Bengaluru and Vijayawada takes around 11 to 12 hours, depending on traffic and the route taken. Once the new corridor becomes operational, the travel time is expected to fall to approximately six to seven hours, according to the project details cited by officials.

The project has an estimated cost of around Rs 19,200 crore to Rs 19,320 crore. The proposed greenfield stretch is approximately 342 to 343 km long, between Kodikonda and Muppavaram. The broader corridor, including existing highway sections, is reported to extend between 518 km and 624 km, depending on the route and components included.

The highway is designed to bypass congested urban stretches, enabling faster and more uninterrupted travel. Construction has been divided into 14 packages, with companies including Megha Engineering, KNR Constructions and Dilip Buildcon involved in the works.

In Andhra Pradesh, the corridor is expected to benefit several districts, including Guntur, Prakasam, Kurnool and Kadapa. Around 110 km of the proposed highway is expected to pass through Prakasam district, covering areas such as Kanigiri, Chimakurthy, Addanki, Talluuru, Kondapi and Panguluru.

Bridge construction, earthwork and road surfacing are among the activities being undertaken along different stretches. The target for completion has been indicated as 2027, although the final commissioning timeline will depend on construction progress and other project requirements.

Beyond passenger travel, the expressway is expected to facilitate faster transportation of agricultural produce, minerals and industrial goods between Bengaluru, Vijayawada and ports along India's eastern coast. Improved connectivity could also encourage logistics facilities, industrial investments and commercial activity along the route, providing an economic boost to both Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

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Coovercolly Indresh

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