Bengaluru–Chennai Highway Disruption Enters Day 3 as NH 44 Cave In Hits Chandapura and Attibele

Traffic movement on the Bengaluru-Chennai Highway, National Highway 44, was disrupted on Wednesday morning after a 100 metre stretch near Attibele partially caved in due to soil collapse at a vehicular overpass construction site.

The affected stretch lies close to the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border and is considered one of the busiest corridors in the country. Commuters reported severe congestion during peak hours, particularly around Chandapura and Attibele.

According to officials, the collapse occurred between 6 am and 7 am. Vehicles slowed to a crawl for nearly two hours before traffic was diverted to the adjacent service road. Normal flow was gradually restored later in the morning.

Soil Collapse at Construction Site

The work is being carried out as part of accident mitigation measures to address four identified black spots along the corridor. Construction of the vehicular overpass began in April 2025 and involves excavation of more than 10 metres along with the building of retaining walls.

Archana Dharma Kumar, General Manager Technical and Project Director of the Bengaluru Expressway Project Implementation Unit of the National Highways Authority of India, said backfilling and soil compaction were under way when the incident occurred.

"The traffic intensity on NH 44 is extremely high, with heavy vehicles moving round the clock. Continuous vibrations have loosened the soil, leading to the collapse," she said.

She added that no casualties were reported and that only one of the three lanes on the main carriageway was affected. Traffic continues to move through the remaining lanes and the service road.

Officials estimate that diversion works may take about 15 days, citing traffic volume and the challenges of working in a developed area. Progress on the overpass project has reportedly been slower due to uninterrupted traffic movement on the stretch.

Commuters Bear the Brunt

The collapse has renewed frustration among daily commuters. Many reported being stuck in long queues during the morning rush hour. Some who left early to avoid congestion said they were still caught in traffic for over 30 minutes between 6.40 am and 7.10 am near Chandapura.

Police confirmed that traffic was slow for nearly two hours following the cave in before diversions were put in place.

With NH 44 serving as a key link between Bengaluru and Hosur, and forming part of the larger Bengaluru-Chennai corridor, questions are being raised over planning and monitoring of construction works on such a high density highway.

While authorities have attributed the collapse to heavy vehicular movement and vibrations, commuters are demanding accountability and clearer timelines to prevent repeated disruptions on one of the region's most critical routes.