The Sholinghur-Banavaram entry/exit toll plaza on the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway is now fully completed and operational, representing a significant advancement for South India’s first greenfield expressway. As development along the NE-7 corridor continues steadily, this achievement moves commuters one step closer to enjoying smooth, high-speed travel between Bengaluru and Chennai.

While the 68-kilometer section of the expressway in Karnataka was finished and unofficially opened in December 2024, progress in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu has fallen behind. Since last month, the Karnataka segment has been experiencing consistent traffic, despite the official inauguration yet to take place.

After being fully completed, South India’s first greenfield corridor will reduce driving time between Bengaluru and Chennai from seven hours to just three. Created for up to 120 km/h trains, the estimated cost of the project is Rs 17,900 crore, and is set to improve access, lessen fuel consumption, and improve the economic situation for the region.

Currently, an average of about 1,600 to 2,000 vehicles travel run on the new section of the highway each day. However, after an accident that killed four people, including a two-year-old girl, the NHAI has decided to prohibit two-wheelers.

As a result, motorists now exit the highway and use a village road to reach Mulbagal and cross into Andhra Pradesh. The introduction of a toll plaza at Sholinghur-Banavaram is beginning to transform the expressway into a route that will greatly benefit travelers across the South.