The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the Chennai-Bengaluru expressway before December.

Speaking at the Karnataka BJP's State executive closing session in Bengaluru, Gadkari emphasised that the new expressway will reduce travel time between Chennai and Bengaluru to just two hours.

The under-construction Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway (BCE) is a major four-lane brownfield project covering approximately 258 kilometres. It spans seven districts, including Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, and Kolar in Karnataka, Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh, as well as Vellore, Kanchipuram, and Tiruvallur in Tamil Nadu.

Addressing Bengaluru's persistent traffic challenges, Gadkari highlighted ongoing efforts to complete the Satellite Township Ring Road (STRR) by December. The ambitious Rs 17,000-crore project, inaugurated by Modi in June 2022, is part of the National Highways Authority of India's (NHAI) Bharatmala Pariyojana, aimed at easing congestion in the city.

During his address, Gadkari disclosed recent discussions with Karnataka's Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister in Delhi, focusing on advancing various road projects. He pledged immediate financial support of Rs 2 lakh crore for these initiatives, contingent upon securing land acquisition and environmental clearances, stressing the indispensability of these prerequisites for road construction.

Gadkari assured prompt responses to most communications from state officials and elected representatives, underscoring his commitment to expediting infrastructure development across the region.