The six-lane widening of the 36.08 km Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway stretch between Walajah and Karaipettai is expected to be completed by September, according to NHAI officials.

Of this, 33.25 km is already finished, with the remaining work on track. The project, estimated at Rs 766.51 crore, began in 2018 but has faced delays. However, the six-laning of the adjacent 34 km stretch between Sriperumbudur and Karaipettai, involving 16 flyovers and bridges, will only conclude by October 2026. The 18 km Sriperumbudur-Karaipettai portion was awarded to a new contractor in January for Rs 411.16 crore.

The 70-km NH section carries about 75,000 passenger car units daily and has 70 accident-prone spots. Construction was hampered by shortages of soil and fly ash, coupled with Covid-19 disruptions. After prolonged delays, work resumed in 2021, only to be halted again. Fly ash supply issues with NTPC’s Vallur plant were resolved through auctions.