The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plans to upgrade NH-44 to a 10-lane road, connecting Bengaluru to the Vijayawada Expressway.

This 90 km stretch will feature a six-lane main carriageway from Devanahalli to Kodikonda, with further integration into the greenfield section of the Bengaluru-Kadapa-Vijayawada expressway, spanning 342 km. The project is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities from 11-12 hours to just six to seven hours. A senior NHAI official highlighted that the road widening will ease traffic flow, with a new cloverleaf interchange planned at Kodikonda to link the expressway with NH-44.

The draft detailed project report (DPR) for this upgrade is expected by February, and construction is set to begin at Kannamangala Gate, near Devanahalli. The majority of the required land is already with NHAI, except for areas needing railway overbridges.