Bengaluru
oi-Madhuri Adnal
Travelling by road from Bengaluru to Vijayawada could become much faster once the proposed greenfield expressway is completed. The 342 km highway is being built to improve connectivity between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, with the journey expected to take around six to seven hours instead of the current 11 to 12 hours.
The project is part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase II and involves building a new six lane, access controlled highway alongside upgrades to existing roads. The greenfield section will run from Kodikonda, near the Karnataka Andhra Pradesh border, to Muppavaram near Addanki in Andhra Pradesh.
Part of Bharatmala Phase II, the proposed Bengaluru-Vijayawada corridor, including a 342 km greenfield expressway costing approximately Rs 19,320 crore, targets completion by 2027 to reduce travel time from 11-12 hours to 6-7 hours.
The wider Bengaluru Kadapa Vijayawada corridor will include improvements to existing highways, taking the total project length to an estimated 518 to 624 km. The overall cost has been estimated at around Rs 19,200 crore to Rs 19,320 crore.
The project is expected to make road travel between the two cities easier and improve the movement of goods between Bengaluru, Andhra Pradesh and ports along the east coast.
How The Expressway Will Reduce Travel Time
The Bengaluru Vijayawada journey currently takes around 11 to 12 hours by road. Once the expressway and its connecting roads are ready, the travel time could fall to approximately six to seven hours.
The new highway is being designed to help long distance traffic avoid congested towns and busy stretches of existing roads. With access controlled entry and exit points, vehicles are expected to face fewer interruptions along the route.
The improvement could benefit regular travellers as well as transport operators moving goods between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Faster road connectivity is also expected to help businesses move agricultural produce, minerals and manufactured goods to major markets and ports.
Which Districts In Andhra Pradesh Will Benefit?
The greenfield highway will pass through Guntur, Prakasam, Kurnool and Kadapa districts in Andhra Pradesh. The route is planned to bypass several congested towns, reducing the pressure on existing highways.
For people living along the corridor, the project is expected to improve access to nearby commercial centres and transport routes. Farmers and businesses could also benefit from quicker movement of goods to markets.
The road is expected to strengthen the connection between Bengaluru, a major technology and business centre, and Vijayawada, an important commercial and transport hub in Andhra Pradesh.
Nearly 110 Km Of The Route Passes Through Prakasam
Prakasam district accounts for nearly 110 km of the greenfield highway. The alignment passes through Chandrasekharapuram, Kanigiri, Veligandla, Marripudi, Cheemakurthy, Thallur, Addanki, Kondepi and Panguluru mandals.
Construction involves earthwork, embankment formation, culverts, bridges and road surfacing. Work has been reported on stretches including Narayanampet to Chandrasekharapuram and Polavaram to Marripadu.
The greenfield section has been divided into 14 construction packages awarded to Megha Engineering and Infrastructures, KNR Constructions and Dilip Buildcon. The division allows construction teams to work on separate sections of the highway.
Bengaluru Side To Get A 10 Lane Highway Upgrade
Along with the new expressway, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is preparing a detailed project report to upgrade around 90 km of National Highway 44 between Devanahalli in Karnataka and Kodikonda in Andhra Pradesh.
The proposal is to expand the existing road into a 10 lane highway, including a six lane main carriageway. A cloverleaf interchange is also planned at Kodikonda to connect NH 44 with the greenfield expressway.
The proposed improvements include barriers along a 12.5 km stretch and streetlights along around 12 km between the trumpet interchange and Devanahalli. These upgrades are expected to improve the connection between Bengaluru and the new highway.
Bengaluru Vijayawada Corridor Targets 2027
In January 2026, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to complete the wider Bengaluru Kadapa Vijayawada Economic Corridor by 2027.
The deadline covers the broader corridor, which includes the new highway as well as upgrades to existing roads. Completion will depend on the pace of construction across the different packages and the readiness of connecting stretches.
Once the project is operational, motorists could have a faster alternative to the existing road route between Bengaluru and Vijayawada. The highway is also expected to improve freight movement and strengthen road connectivity between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
However, the travel time benefits will depend on the completion of the entire corridor, including the connecting roads and highway upgrades.
