The expressway will halve the travel time between Bengaluru and Chennai from six hours to three hours, significantly decongest NH-44 and NH-48, lower logistics costs, and boost trade and industry between the two southern metros.
Uttar Pradesh, the state with the highest number of expressways in the country, is now planning a 700-km, six-lane expressway that will be developed entirely as a greenfield project.
According to the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) officials, civil work on the elevated part has been completed, while station construction is ongoing underground.
The minister also stressed that huge infrastructure work worth Rs 2 lakh crore is being undertaken around Pune and expressed how challenging it was to acquire land for the expansion of Pune airport.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday flagged off three Vande Bharat Express trains at KSR Railway Station in Bengaluru. These included trains from Bengaluru to Belagavi, Amritsar to Sri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Nagpur (Ajni) to Pune.