Planning a drive between Hyderabad and Bengaluru? The journey is set to become significantly quicker, with travel time likely to drop to around five hours. This is due to a major upgrade planned for the
busy interstate corridor.
The Centre has approved the modernisation of National Highway-44, the main route connecting Hyderabad and Bengaluru via Kurnool, Nandyal and Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh. The highway will be widened into a six-lane, access-controlled expressway, promising smoother traffic flow and fewer delays.
No New Road, Just A Smarter Upgrade
Initially, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had proposed constructing a new greenfield high-speed corridor parallel to the existing route. For this purpose, three different alignment studies were also conducted.
However, officials found that the proposed corridor would run very close to the current NH-44, with almost the same distance. This raised concerns over significantly higher construction costs.
In some stretches, the length of the new corridor was expected to be even longer than the existing highway. After evaluating all these factors, the Centre decided that expanding and upgrading the existing NH-44 would be more practical and cost-effective than building a new road altogether.
Distance Covered Across Three States
At present, the total length of NH-44 between Hyderabad and Bengaluru is approximately 576 kilometres. Of this, about 210 kilometres fall within Telangana, 260 kilometres in Andhra Pradesh, and 106 kilometres in Karnataka.
Once the entire stretch is converted into a six-lane access-controlled highway, vehicles will be able to move at high speeds without traffic interruptions. Entry and exit points will be limited to select locations, ensuring a smooth flow of traffic. Toll charges will be levied based on the distance travelled.
Service roads will be constructed on both sides of the main highway to cater to local traffic. Slow-moving vehicles such as two-wheelers, auto-rickshaws, tractors, and local transport will be required to use these service roads. This segregation will ensure that high-speed vehicles on the main carriageway can move without hindrance.
Bengaluru–Chennai Expressway Nears Completion
Meanwhile, the Bengaluru–Chennai Expressway is also nearing completion. Once operational, residents of Chittoor district will be able to reach either Bengaluru or Chennai within just one-and-a-half hours. From certain locations, travel to Bengaluru could take less than an hour.
Designed for a maximum speed of 120 kilometres per hour, these expressways are expected to transform transportation, trade, tourism, and industrial development across South India. Officials believe the new road infrastructure will open up fresh growth opportunities and significantly boost regional connectivity
