Bengaluru: Motorists can now travel on nearly 100km of Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway after National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) opened an additional 25km stretch in Andhra Pradesh.In early 2025, NHAI opened a 71km stretch within Karnataka – from Hoskote to Bethamangala (KGF). After a gap of nearly one-and-a-half years, the Bethamangala-Baireddypalle section in Andhra Pradesh has now been thrown open to traffic. This is the first section of the expressway to be opened in Andhra Pradesh.Within Andhra, NHAI is constructing an 85km stretch of the expressway in three packages: Bethamangala-Baireddypalle (25km), Baireddypalle-Bangarupalem (31km) and Bangarupalem-Gudipala (29km).A senior NHAI official told TOI that two of the three packages in Andhra Pradesh have been completed, while work on the remaining package is underway. “Bethamangala-Baireddypalle section has been opened to motorists. A portion of the Baireddypalle-Bangarupalem stretch is pending due to forest clearance issues. In this section, the works have been completed, barring 11km. The pending works include the construction of underpass for movement of wild animals. The third package, from Bangarupalem to Gudipala, was completed more than a year ago. We expect to complete the remaining works and open the entire 262km expressway, including the Tamil Nadu section, by the end of Dec 2026,” the official said.The official said that opening of the a stretch from N G Hulkur (in Karnataka ) to Baireddipalle is benefiting motorists travelling to Chittoor, Tirupati and Chennai. “After exiting the expressway, motorists use district roads that connect to the national highways leading to these destinations. Since the opening of the stretch, a good number of vehicles have been using it,” the official said. Baireddypalle toll plaza is collecting an average of Rs 2.2 lakh in toll revenue every day.Pay Rs 290 for return journeyAs per the latest toll notification issued by NHAI, effective June 25, motorists travelling on Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway from Hoskote to Baireddypalle (Hediganabele toll plaza to Baireddypalle toll plaza) will have to pay Rs 195 for a one-way journey in cars, jeeps and vans. The return journey toll has been fixed at Rs 290, while a monthly pass for 50 single journeys is priced at Rs 6,465.For light commercial vehicles (LCVS), light goods vehicles (LGVS) and minibuses, one-way toll is Rs 315 and the return fare Rs 470. Trucks and buses will pay Rs 655 for a single journey and Rs 985 for a return trip.An NHAI official said the revised toll structure, which came into effect Thursday, applies only to vehicles using the main carriageway of the expressway. “No toll is being collected for vehicles using the entry and exit ramps to access or leave the main carriageway,” the official said. In the operational stretch, there are toll plazas at Hedaginabele, Agrahara, Krishnarajpura, Sunderapalya and Baireddypalle.
