[sayakc]

Thanks again Golam-da for updating this thread with constructive inputs. So, does it mean that the Raiganj-Dalkhola section will be constructed as per schedule? If so, do you have any update on the estimated completion dates?

Regards,
Sayak

Originally Posted by gmhossain

Malda Bypass:
Considering their dire financial situation, the HCC has now sold off entire Farakka-Raiganj highway stretch of NH-12 to Cube Highways, a Singapore based company [3]. So until the new company takes the charge, the opening of Malda bypass is likely to be delayed again!

The HCC is apparently also planning to sell-off the Baharampore-Farakka stretch. I wish they do it soon. They started collecting toll in this stretch in 2014. Still, they haven't been able to complete Baharampur Bypass in this last 4 years.

[forcooler]

Originally Posted by Samratrek

Dear BHPians
I am planning to drive from Raxaul (Birgunj Nepal border) to Siliguri through India in the next 10/15 days.
Though the shortest distance is through Nepal i.e. 430 km, I would like to explore the roads in North Bihar.
Google Maps is giving the following route:
Raxaul-Motihari-Muzaffarpur-Darbhanga-Pratapganj-Forbesganj-Araria-Bahadurganj-Thakurganj-Siliguri.
I am aware about the Raxaul-Muzaffarpur stretch, need information on the remaining section i.e. the Muzaffarpur-Siliguri stretch.
I think Sheel can help me on this.
By the way "nihilultra", me too a Kolkata SXCian 1994 Chem Batch.
Regards
Samrat

Hi Samrat,

I see that you mentioned you know about the condition on the Raxaul Muzaffarpur stretch. Can you tell me what the condition is like on that stretch? (even if the info maybe from June 2018). On basic google search it shows that the route from Pipra Kothi to Raxaul was in tatters in 2017.

[Samratrek]

[quote=forcooler;4516594]Hi Samrat,

I see that you mentioned you know about the condition on the Raxaul Muzaffarpur stretch. Can you tell me what the condition is like on that stretch? (even if the info maybe from June 2018).

Hi Forcooler
Muzaffarpur-Raxaul section is around 145 kms & if you are driving during the day it would take around a maximum of 3hrs, I had been doing it in 2.5 hours as well.
A word of caution, its very foggy these days & might delay your planned timings.
It is not at all what used to exist an year back or so to say 6 months back. Earlier just the Motihari-Sagauli-Raxaul stretch of 55/56 kms used to take 4 hours, particularly the Sagauli-Raxaul section full of 6 to 8 inch deep craters with almost everyone having incidents of their car getting damaged.
Muzaffarpur-Raxaul section can be divided into 4 segments:
1)Muzaffarpur-Piprakothi
It's around 64 km,& it’s a 4 lane smooth drive through the newly completed NH 27(with traffic signages & roadside assistance displays),with not much traffic & trucks normally here stay to the left, you will find occasional local Bolero's as well as local bikers sometimes using the wrong side of the road to cross a village. You will also find petrol pumps at decent expected distances, but do not expect high class dhabas as you get around weekend drives from metro cities. You can cruise along at an average of 80 kmph
2)Piprakothi-Motihari
It’s around 25 km & just been completed but the signages & dividers are missing at some points to come, but it’s no more the old potholed highway. Since this is the approach to Motihari you will find a lot of indisciplined local traffic.
3)Motihari-Sagauli
This is also around 26 kms & is now black topped & smooth with almost a 4 lane breadth, but again without dividers, you can cruise along at an average of 60 kmph.
4)Sagauli-Raxaul
This 30 km stretch has been very recently (around 5/6 months) been black topped, & you will able to cruise along at an average of 50 kmph. About 4-5 kms has some minor potholes which would slow down the speed & also when nearing Raxaul, you might face a long que of Nepal bound trucks stranded on one side of the Highway for border clearance.

Regards

Samrat

[Sheel]

Guys, completely avoid this route because all CV traffic going via Farrakah has been directed to Vikramshila Setu and its a mess.

Its advised to take Farrakah route till CV's don't ply and then, one can take this route.

[sandx]

Hello folks, I intend to embark on a trip from Hyderabad to Guwahati in my 9 year old Alto, reason being I intend to send the car to my hometown where my family folks can use it for some small errands. So instead of couriering it thinking of driving down all the way. Most of the route is sorted out but the Kolkata to Siliguri section seems to have various plus minuses depending on the route taken.

Thinking of planning a stopover in the vicinity of Dankuni and doing an early morning start to Siliguri. Now I haven't decided on the date yet but planning to undertake the journey within the next 3 to 4 months.

I was hoping if someone can advise me on which route to take that will be easy on my Alto. Per Google maps the route through Bardhaman, Farakka, Malda, Botolbari, Dhantola takes less time, but there are various alternate routes through Asansol, Purnea, Dalkhola as taken by forum members within this forum and friends. Trying to search for the right information afresh. I will appreciate any inputs.

[Krishroy]

Originally Posted by sandx

but there are various alternate routes through Asansol, Purnea, Dalkhola as taken by forum members within this forum and friends.

I took this route while coming back from Guwahati to Kolkata last week of Jan and had horrible experience. From Purnea to Bihar-Jharkhand border, one lane was completely occupied by trucks. It was only other side of the road that was being used by both side traffic. It took around 5:30 hours to cross 150 KM.

Farakka is also in a bad shape, as one side of the bridge was only operational. While going to Guwahati, I took the Farakka route. Based on that experience, my suggestion would be to take Burdwan - Farakka route.

[ankan.m.blr]

Hi Guys, need your advice. I have booked a zoomcar from Siliguri to drive to Raiganj and back. Start from Siliguri on 12-March noon and start back from Raiganj on 13-March morning. Please suggest the best route. Is it via Dalkhola or Dhantola - Botolbari ?

[NomadicLife]

Originally Posted by ankan.m.blr

Hi Guys, need your advice. I have booked a zoomcar from Siliguri to drive to Raiganj and back. Start from Siliguri on 12-March noon and start back from Raiganj on 13-March morning. Please suggest the best route. Is it via Dalkhola or Dhantola - Botolbari ?

Yeah, Dhantola - Botolbari is the preferred route.

[Sandy28]

Originally Posted by ankan.m.blr

Hi Guys, need your advice. I have booked a zoomcar from Siliguri to drive to Raiganj and back. Start from Siliguri on 12-March noon and start back from Raiganj on 13-March morning. Please suggest the best route. Is it via Dalkhola or Dhantola - Botolbari ?

Take the Dhantola - Botolbari route. It is acurately plotted on Google map. So you can follow it blindly. Good road though narrow. Just be careful while driving as you will be crossing many villages enroute

[toppor]

Did Kolkata - Siliguri yesterday 12 March, route taken was Bardhhman, Morgram, Farakka, Malda bypass, Botolbari, Dhantola, Siliguri.
Malda bypass is not ready, but any vehicle can do this route.
Botolbari-Dhantola cautious driving is required as the roads are narrow and 2 vehicles is not a fit, you will need to get off road. At some places the off road is a deep pit, so incoming traffic has to be cautiously managed. Last 200 meters to join NH towards Siliguri has huge craters, be mindful of the same.

[Samratrek]

Originally Posted by toppor

Did Kolkata - Siliguri yesterday 12 March, route taken was Bardhhman, Morgram, Farakka, Malda bypass, Botolbari, Dhantola, Siliguri.
Malda bypass is not ready, but any vehicle can do this route.
Botolbari-Dhantola cautious driving is required as the roads are narrow and 2 vehicles is not a fit, you will need to get off road. At some places the off road is a deep pit, so incoming traffic has to be cautiously managed. Last 200 meters to join NH towards Siliguri has huge craters, be mindful of the same.

Can you please update us on what route did you take for Bardhaman-Morgram & the current condition of that route.
Regards
Samrat

[toppor]

Originally Posted by Samratrek

Can you please update us on what route did you take for Bardhaman-Morgram & the current condition of that route.
Regards
Samrat

Did the usual Bardhhman - Khargram - Morgram, the route is a breeze to drive, however at one place I forgot the name, route towards Bardhhman, trucks are stopped in a queue, and only one side moving towards Morgram is open. There are civic police there, but they are only bothered with stopping trucks. The road shoulder is thin, so one need to get down from the road to continue movement. As the 2 lane road now has 3 lane traffic, however we were not stuck more than 5 minutes.
There are very low possibility of food, so do stock up.
The roads are good, however every time you cross a village, there's huge commotion and you need to drive very slow, average speed taking a hit.

[starter]

Originally Posted by toppor

Did Kolkata - Siliguri yesterday 12 March, route taken was Bardhhman, Morgram, Farakka, Malda bypass, Botolbari, Dhantola, Siliguri.
Malda bypass is not ready, but any vehicle can do this route.
Botolbari-Dhantola cautious driving is required as the roads are narrow and 2 vehicles is not a fit, you will need to get off road. At some places the off road is a deep pit, so incoming traffic has to be cautiously managed. Last 200 meters to join NH towards Siliguri has huge craters, be mindful of the same.

How much time did it take to do the stretch?
Any specific start time that would help make it better?
Cheers,
Deepak

[toppor]

Originally Posted by starter

How much time did it take to do the stretch?
Any specific start time that would help make it better?
Cheers,
Deepak

I was actually travelling from Kolkata, and I started from Kolkata airport area at 5:30 AM and reached Siliguri at 6:15 PM, this was with multiple breaks as we had a toddler travelling, so feeding and nappy breaks were inevitable.
Specifically Bardhhman to Siliguri - with Malda Bypass we did it in 10.5 hours, Farakka although we were lucky that Siliguri bound route was open and we were allowed, however we were stuck on the bridge itself for about 45 minutes.
Post Raigunj took the Botolbari exit to Dhantola, the road itself is madness with multitudes of villages en-route, drive very carefully here. Islampur again is chaos with truck traffic, keep 30 minutes to cross the Islampur section.
Rest is a breeze.

[gmhossain]

Farakka updates:

• The trucks/heavy vehicles are now being to allowed to go over the Farrakka barrage road since Mar 15th. Consequently, the long, I mean really long, truck queues are now back on both sides of the barrage!
  
  We drove to Malda on Mar 20, 2019. We were forced to switch to the right carriageway before Ballalpur (iconic bailey bridge) and we continued until the approach of the Farakka barrage. Unfortunately, we missed the one-way window by a couple of minutes and had to wait about 90 minutes for it to re-open from Farakka side. While returning on Mar 24, we could see the truck queue that was extending beyond Kaliachak. Again we drove through the right carriageway and had to wait for an hour at the barrage approach for the one-way window.
  
  
• Nevertheless, this long ordeal could come to an end within 2 weeks from now as bitumen surfacing work for the 2nd lane of the barrage road has also started.
  
  
• Finally, the work for the new twin road bridge at Farakka is in full swing. I was surprised to see the amount of pier works that they have completed in last 3 months. Let's hope that this Indo-China JV company can complete it by 2022 as planned.

The really long truck queue -- approach to Farakka from Ballalpur end on Mar 20, 2019


Chaotic approach to Farakka from Kaliachak end on Mar 24, 2019