04/09/2026
NHAI has achieved a breakthrough in the excavation of the 3.68-km-long tunnel under Package-9 of the Bengaluru–Kadapa–Vijayawada Economic Corridor (NH-544G), between Porumamilla in YSR Kadapa District and Sitaramapuram in SPSR Nellore District. With an estimated project cost of ₹1,092.18 crore, the project is likely to be completed by mid-2027.
The tunnel will directly connect the two portals, avoiding the existing longer route and reducing the travel distance by around 17 km. The Bengaluru–Kadapa–Vijayawada Economic Corridor will also reduce the Bengaluru–Vijayawada travel distance by 110 km, save 3–4 hours of travel time, improve connectivity with NH-44 and NH-16, and provide access to the Hindupur and Kopparthi industrial nodes.