PM Modi to launch Chennai-Bengaluru expressway by December, says Nitin Gadkari: Report

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that PM Modi will inaugurate the Chennai-Bengaluru expressway before December.

Published on: Jul 5, 2024, 15:40:11 IST

By Yamini C S

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Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced on Thursday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the Chennai-Bengaluru expressway before December this year.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari speaks during a party's Special Executive Meeting, in Bengaluru on Thursday. (PTI)

Speaking at the valedictory session of Karnataka BJP’s State executive in Bengaluru, Gadkari highlighted that the new expressway will enable travellers to commute between Bengaluru and Chennai in just two hours, significantly reducing travel time, The Hindu reported.

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The Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway, currently under construction, is a four-lane brownfield project spanning approximately 258 km. It will traverse seven districts: Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural and Kolar in Karnataka; Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh; and Vellore, Kanchipuram, and Tiruvallur in Tamil Nadu.

Addressing the traffic congestion issue in Bengaluru, Gadkari also mentioned plans to expedite the Satellite Township Ring Road (STRR) project, aiming for completion by December. “I will try to complete the ₹17,000-crore ring road by December,” he said, as quoted by the publication.

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Initiated under the Bharatmala Pariyojana by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the STRR project was inaugurated by PM Modi in June 2022 and aims to alleviate traffic in Bengaluru by providing alternative routes.

Gadkari assured that he promptly addresses all communications from the Karnataka government and elected representatives regarding road projects, underscoring his commitment to timely project execution and infrastructure development in the region.

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“I told them that I can immediately give them ₹2 lakh crore. But you get the land acquisition done and ensure that environmental clearances are obtained. Because, I cannot build roads in air. But for a few, I have responded to all the letters,” he said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More