[Sunney]

I need to travel on emergency upto Vapi-Silvassa from today/ early tomorrow on a Linea, mostly solo.
It is no sightseeing but business, urgent: need to roam a lot in that area.
Flight, train takes too much time and costs too.
I found best by car: Comfort, time saving(over all), freedom, cheap. ABOVE ALL I am a drivaholic, no recent long drives.

Are roads too bad after-monsoon?

anybody on this stretch may kindly contribute on this...

Originally Posted by Sunney

Are roads too bad after-monsoon? anybody on this stretch may kindly contribute on this.

I drove from Kanniyakumari to Bangalore on NH 7 on 22 August 2011 [Monday]. The NH 7 is butter-smooth all the way to Bangalore unaffected by monsoon. The Thoppur Ghats [between Salem and Krishnagiri] have some uneven tarmac due to lumps of asphalt settled on both the sides of tracks used by heavy vehicles. Drive your Linea safely away from the mounds of asphalt or if it is inevitable, drive in such a way that both the wheels are on the mounds so as to avoid bottom-scraping. Between Krishnagiri and Bangalore there were some rough stretches, but nothing to worry. Similarly, from Bangalore to Mumbai, NH 4 is in excellent condition. But, after Mumbai, the problem starts due to road widening works of NH 8 from 4 lanes to 6 lanes between Mumbai and Surat. Traffic jams, diversions, long queues, etc., are order of the day.

Drive safely. Bon Voyage.

[SankalpDesai]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

But, after Mumbai, the problem starts due to road widening works of NH 8 from 4 lanes to 6 lanes between Mumbai and Surat. Traffic jams, diversions, long queues, etc., are order of the day.

Drive safely. Bon Voyage.

Hey Sunney

This stretch is under the road widening process (as mentioned by Ravi) and you will face some traffic hassles on it. But that would also depend on what time you would be travelling on this stretch. If you are travelling in the night, planning to reach Vapi by morning then this should not be a problem. But if you are planning to cover this part in the evening, so as to reach Vapi by night, check in to a hotel and start work the next morning, then you will definitely find this a little challenging.

This route also sees major trucking activity, hence do keep a close watch while commuting here. Check your headlights, fog lamps and wipers as it is raining incessantly in Mumbai and you will find them towards Gujarat as well.