[aargee]

Originally Posted by procrj

Also wanted to check on best route to take from Manimangalam to Mahabalipuram. Gmaps shows me Vandalur - Kelambakam - Kovalam - Mahabs - is this the best route to take or can I do Chengalpattu - Mahabs? Looking for a relatively stress free route as I will be driving Vandalur - Mahabs Friday afternoon.

Take the Sriperumbudur - Manimangalam - Vandalur - Kelambakkam - Kovalam - ECR. You'll have issues...REAL bad issues only at Kelambakkam junction, rest will be breeze.

[ampere]

Or another option is to take the Kanchipuram-Chegalpet-Kelambakam option. Avoids bad traffic from Arcot to Sriperumbudur/Manimangalam.

[procrj]

Originally Posted by aargee

Take the Sriperumbudur - Manimangalam - Vandalur - Kelambakkam - Kovalam - ECR. You'll have issues...REAL bad issues only at Kelambakkam junction, rest will be breeze.

Did take the above route and here are the updates:
Sriperumbudur - Manimangalam: After the turn off from the highway, the first few Kms are broken with some real bad potholes but once you hit the SIPCOT road, its a good 4L/2L all the way to Manimangalam.
Manimangalam - Vandalur - Kelambakkam: was not an issue at all. Took ORR and breeze through Vandalur signal (this was at 3.30 PM on Friday). Again not much traffic on Vandalur - Kelambakkam stretch apart from a few buses that stopped at will. Kelambakkam signal was also not very bad and and managed to take the left towards Kovalam in 5 minutes.

On the way back yesterday, drove back via Chengalpattu - Walajabad - Kanchipuram - Ranipet and the 110 odd kms took 2 hours. Had to negotiate traffic in Chengalpattu and then kind of bypass Kanchipuram using the Military road and then hop onto Vandavasi - Bangalore Bypass to get to Ranipet. Loads of truck & bus traffic in Walajabad - Kanchipuram stretch.
Here is the link to the so called Kanchi bypass. Not sure if this is the standard route to take to bypass Kanchi traffic: https://goo.gl/maps/dJNwSCcY1S52

[aargee]

Originally Posted by procrj

On the way back yesterday, drove back via Chengalpattu - Walajabad - Kanchipuram - Ranipet and the 110 odd kms took 2 hours. Had to negotiate traffic in Chengalpattu and then kind of bypass Kanchipuram using the Military road and then hop onto Vandavasi - Bangalore Bypass to get to Ranipet. Loads of truck & bus traffic in Walajabad - Kanchipuram stretch

Yesterday was little unusual, there was heavy traffic yesterday. A friend of mine got struck at Paranur aka Chennai tollgate & took almost 2 hours to reach Chennai city.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by procrj

On the way back yesterday, drove back via Chengalpattu - Walajabad - Kanchipuram - Ranipet and the 110 odd kms took 2 hours. Had to negotiate traffic in Chengalpattu and then kind of bypass Kanchipuram using the Military road and then hop onto Vandavasi - Bangalore Bypass to get to Ranipet. Loads of truck & bus traffic in Walajabad - Kanchipuram stretch.

Not sure on this. Did not expect heavy traffic on this SH. But yes Chengalpattu town crossing needs to be taken care off.

Here is the link to the so called Kanchi bypass. Not sure if this is the standard route to take to bypass Kanchi traffic

Thats the correct one. No other option.

Based on your experiences it looks like Sriperumbudur is a better option.

[procrj]

Originally Posted by ampere

Based on your experiences it looks like Sriperumbudur is a better option.

Definitely but need to watch out for those random potholes that turn up in Sriperumbudur - Cheenasamudram stretch.

[hserus]

I am currently in Whitefield and need to leave for Chennai tomorrow morning.

Is the Whitefield Sarjapur Road that goes past hope farm and connects to the Attibele toll still a mess due to road works? If so the recent rains can’t have done it any significant amount of good.

If by some miracle the road is now in good sha R please do let me know. Thanks.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by hserus

I am currently in Whitefield and need to leave for Chennai tomorrow morning.

Is the Whitefield Sarjapur Road that goes past hope farm and connects to the Attibele toll still a mess due to road works? If so the recent rains can’t have done it any significant amount of good.

If by some miracle the road is now in good sha R please do let me know. Thanks.

I just drove 4 days ago in this route. Attibelle-Sarjapur-Varthur-Hope farm signal. The road conditions are bad between Attibelle till Varthur, so i don't recommend it. Better to take EC at off peak hours.

-Ravi

[narayans80]

Drove last Saturday till Vaniyambadi. The surface on the Bangalore bound side is more or less the same as what I saw 2 years back, very little improvement. The Madras bound side is smooth tarmac till Sriperumbudur bypass.

What's bad is the numerous barricades that have popped up. Quite a few have been knocked off by people not expecting and misjudging them. On one occasion I noticed one fallen down sideways. Since it was daytime I spotted from a distance, not sure how it will be at night time.

Seems like Fastag sensors are on all lanes in Pallikonda, Chennasamudram and Pennalur. The tag got auto detected even in a lane, not marked for Fastag.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Drove last Saturday till Vaniyambadi. The surface on the Bangalore bound side is more or less the same as what I saw 2 years back, very little improvement. The Madras bound side is smooth tarmac till Sriperumbudur bypass.

Whenever I head out of Chennai by noon, I make sure I usually reach Bangalore by 6:30/7 or 8 at max. There is always a feeling euphoria the moment I cross Walaja toll. Its much better beyond on the 6-lane. I have not seen difference on the road quality on either side (may not have sensed it), but the barricades are pathetic. They should have made a clear bypass for all these villages.

Seems like Fastag sensors are on all lanes in Pallikonda, Chennasamudram and Pennalur. The tag got auto detected even in a lane, not marked for Fastag.

This is great to note. Thanks for sharing.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by ampere

I have not seen difference on the road quality on either side (may not have sensed it), but the barricades are pathetic. They should have made a clear bypass for all these villages.

Originally Posted by narayans80

What's bad is the numerous barricades that have popped up. Quite a few have been knocked off by people not expecting and misjudging them. On one occasion I noticed one fallen down sideways. Since it was daytime I spotted from a distance, not sure how it will be at night time.

Yes, there are way too many barricades especially in Vellore district. The placement of them is also bad especially in curves, where there is very little time to react/slow down or go through them for those who are at high speeds.

Totally Agree with narayan its very dangerous at night. People simply knock it off and pass through and least bothered about vehicles coming behind. Two wheelers are at very high risk!

Though it is good to reduce speeds in intersections but the approach and placements of barricades with zero advance notification is dangerous.

Originally Posted by narayans80

Seems like Fastag sensors are on all lanes in Pallikonda, Chennasamudram and Pennalur. The tag got auto detected even in a lane, not marked for Fastag.

Since i lost my car, i couldn't use FASTag lane and hence didn't bother to check if there are sensors in all lanes. Glad to know if they have installed it,but by all means, the cash payment method is slowing down and defeats the purpose anyway

-Ravi

[Red Liner]

Took the chitoor route this afternoon. Huge number of speed breakers all along the way after getting off the tolled road. Was frustrating.

Will take the regular hosur route on the way back.

[tilt]

Originally Posted by narayans80

*SNIP*

Seems like Fastag sensors are on all lanes in Pallikonda, Chennasamudram and Pennalur. The tag got auto detected even in a lane, not marked for Fastag.

LOL, maybe I should try that from now on - going into the lanes that are NOT marked Fastag. At Chennasamudram and Nemili (Sriperambudur) I always have trouble having my tag read - I always have to go back and forth a few times at different angles and different speeds for the barrier to open. And, these are the only two locations I ever have had issues with!

Cheers

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by ampere

I have not seen difference on the road quality on either side (may not have sensed it),

There is a perceptible difference. I drove up and down within a 4-5 hour gap. If not for 2 huge jams between Sriperumbudur and Poonamalee I'd have returned faster than I did onward.

Originally Posted by tilt

At Chennasamudram and Nemili (Sriperambudur) I always have trouble having my tag read - I always have to go back and forth a few times at different angles and different speeds for the barrier to open.

My case was the other way around. I had a return ticket so I consciously entered the lane not marked with Fastag. But it detected regardless. I did notice there were small green ETC toll boards hung on each lane.

I'll have an opportunity to test this again in a week time.

Mine is a Equitas tag mounted on the front passenger side.

[Waxeloquent]

FastTag, does its position in the windshield make a difference in recognition speed? If yes, which position - driver side, co-passenger side, Right/left/center, top/middle or bottom? I have been having this for 2+ years now, just below central rear view mirror inside. Should one replace with a new Tag if there is no visible damage to it?