Nelamangala-Tumakuru highway expansion delayed again, service roads now expected by mid-2026

Commuters on the busy Bengaluru-Tumakuru stretch may have to endure longer traffic woes as the much-awaited expansion of National Highway 48 faces fresh delays. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has now revised the project timeline, pushing the completion of service roads to June 2026, while the entire widening project is expected to conclude only by March 2027.

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The 44.04-km highway expansion, from Nelamangala toll gate to Tumakuru, was originally launched in August 2022 with the goal of upgrading the existing four-lane road to six lanes. It also included constructing two-lane service roads on both sides to ensure smooth traffic flow during the main work. Initially, the service roads were scheduled to be ready by August 2025, but land-related issues stalled the plan.

Progress was halted for over six months due to land acquisition hurdles. NHAI reported land gaps at 35 locations, primarily caused by unpaid compensations, incomplete acquisition paperwork, and resistance from landowners. Though work resumed in April 2025, the earlier timeline is no longer viable.

The Tumakuru highway is a critical route connecting Bengaluru with central and northern Karnataka. Thousands of vehicles use this stretch daily, making delays in infrastructure upgrades a major concern for commuters and transporters alike.

NHAI officials now assure that with most land issues resolved, the construction will proceed in phases, beginning with the service roads.