A new high-speed greenfield elevated corridor between Hyderabad and Bengaluru is in the planning stage. It will run through Kurnool, Nandyal, Anantapur and Satya Sai districts in Andhra Pradesh. A DPR is being prepared for a corridor that runs parallel to NH 44.
Three alignments are now being developed for the project. The alignment approval committee of the Union Highways Ministry will select one route. The approval will decide the final plan for construction.
The current Hyderabad to Bengaluru drive on NH 44 takes 8 to 9 hours. The new corridor will bring this down to 5 hours, with vehicles travelling at speeds of up to 120 km. This will significantly improve long-distance road travel.
Officials first planned to expand NH 44 but dropped the idea because of dense residential areas. The new corridor will instead be built with six lanes to avoid disruption. It is being designed to offer a smooth inter-city connection.
The corridor will have limited entry and exit points. Where it intersects with national highways, trumpet interchanges will be added. It will stand about 4 to 5 feet high and will run with an advanced traffic management system.
A consultancy is preparing three alignment options. Land will be acquired up to 100 metres in width. The estimated cost is Rs 13 crore in AP, though the final amount will be confirmed once the alignment is approved.
The NHAI has set a deadline of February 2026 for the consultancy to submit the DPR. This deadline marks the first major milestone in moving the project towards execution.
