India, March 18 -- The ambitious Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway, designed to enhance connectivity between the two metros, is now expected to be fully operational by June 2026, nearly a year later than the previously announced August 2025 deadline.

The delay has been attributed to ongoing construction challenges, according to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), The Hindu reported.

Spanning 262 km, the expressway has seen only 71 km completed so far, while the remaining sections continue to face roadblocks. While the Karnataka segment of the highway was finished and made informally accessible in December 2024, progress in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu remains sluggish.

Addressing a query from Rajya Sabha MP Lahar Singh Siroya,...