[GeeTee TSI]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Is this the Walajabad-Military Road route (GMap)? If so, has the widening completed?

I have included the route here beyond Walajahbad through Ayyampettai to NH48

Beyond Ayyampettai it's primarily country roads (single carriageway) but traffic is light and the surface, good

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by GeeTee TSI

Beyond Ayyampettai it's primarily country roads (single carriageway) but traffic is light and the surface, good

It is indeed the Walajabad-Military Road stretch Looks like the resurfacing is done.

What time did you negotiate the stretch?

[GeeTee TSI]

Originally Posted by narayans80

It is indeed the Walajabad-Military Road stretch Looks like the resurfacing is done.

What time did you negotiate the stretch?

It was a 4 pm departure from Madipakkam, so probably after 5:30 pm. To be specific, the route after Ayyampettai meandered through Kaliyanoor and Melambi

[venkyhere]

Originally Posted by GeeTee TSI

I have included the route here beyond Walajahbad through Ayyampettai to NH48

Beyond Ayyampettai it's primarily country roads (single carriageway) but traffic is light and the surface, good

Originally Posted by GeeTee TSI

To be specific, the route after Ayyampettai meandered through Kaliyanoor and Melambi

Wow, this is a great find. That means, it's smooth roads all the way from Vandalur, through Oragadam, through Walajabad, take right - through Ayyampettai, through the single-lane country road which you described above , to join NH48, just 29km before the Chennasamudram toll. Thank you very much.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by GeeTee TSI

It was a 4 pm departure from Madipakkam, so probably after 5:30 pm. To be specific, the route after Ayyampettai meandered through Kaliyanoor and Melambi

Originally Posted by narayans80

It is indeed the Walajabad-Military Road stretch Looks like the resurfacing is done.

What time did you negotiate the stretch?

Seems like he took the north side of Kanchi. Are there any later developments to Military road? I think more and more I am getting inclined to get off the 4-lane at Kanchi itself. Also how good/bad is crossing Walajabad town?

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by ampere

Seems like he took the north side of Kanchi. I think more and more

I just realized this. Have possibly been this way, during our Athi Varadar detours in 2019.

Are there any later developments to Military road?

No. It doesn't see serious traffic either. If Walajabad-Military Road junction is good, going via Military Road would be the best, since roads are much wider once you get past the initial left-right turns.

I am getting inclined to get off the 4-lane at Kanchi itself.

Where? There are 3 exits to Kanchipuram

Also how good/bad is crossing Walajabad town?

Not a big deal.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Where? There are 3 exits to Kanchipuram

I meant all the way to Chennai. Instead of exiting at Sunguvarchatram, get off at Kanchi, Military road (use Entire Kanchi bypass or one of the other ways to bypass), Walajabad, Oragadam, Vandalur.

[srvm]

I travelled to Chennai from Bangalore on 5th October (Vijayadasami day).
Got stuck in a long traffic jam near Saint Gobain Factory (SIPCOT) Sriperumbudur around 6pm.
GMaps showed a blood red up to Sriperumbudur (Rajiv Gandhi Memorial junction) about 6km distance. Estimate was about 1 to 1.5 hours to cross this 6km stretch. Traffic was mostly standstill with lots of trucks.

After struggling, crawling and mostly standstill for about 30 minutes, found a break in median where I could take U-turn to Bangalore bound carriageway (near Borg Warner Factory). Took left at Sunguvarchatram (SH120), again left at Kattavakkam (SH48), crossed Oragadam, Padappai, joined ORR at Mannivakkam to go to Pattabiram. Mostly smooth 4-laned roads with very less traffic. Reached home about 1.5 hours later than expected but my left leg was spared.

This was my first time in this (SH120-SH48) route and it was post dusk. But thanks to the recent posts in this thread, I was comfortable taking it even though my family was apprehensive. A big thanks to all those who recommended this route.

PS: On the return journey from Pattabiram, joined ORR at Sitharkadu, DID NOT join NH48 at Nazarethpettai. Instead took ORR exit at Kundrathur. Peaceful, traffic free divided 4-lane SH up to Sriperumbudur to join the NH.

[GeeTee TSI]

From Bangalore (Yelahanka), I had a 4 pm start on a Friday evening for my onward drive to Chennai and this automatically voided the Hosur route as I had no intention of traversing the length of Bangalore City in the evening

Avoiding Hebbal and KR Puram (outer ring road altogether), I had a quiet drive through predominantly residential layouts in my route (included here) eventually joining at Aavalahalli. The highway was still busy with commuter traffic till some distance past Hoskote Toll but it reverted to a proper highway soon after

[naadopaasaka]

Planning to drive from HRBR/ Kasturi Nagar/ KR Puram area in Bengaluru to Kanchipuram, on Friday, spend the night there and then drive to Chennai on Saturday morning. Will leave Bengaluru at 0530-0600.

I have checked Google Maps both yesterday and this morning. It seems to rather stubbornly recommend only the Chittoor route. Maps doesn't even show the Hosur-Krishnagiri-Ambur route as an alternative.

I would appreciate some help on the following questions.
(1) What's happening on the Hosur-Krishnagiri-Ambur route? What explains Google Maps' allergy to it?

(2) Any good options for breakfast between Bengaluru and Ranipet? Google Maps suggests Sree Krishna Grand, Nangali, but we might get there too early. Woody's Kolar might be an option too, but again, too early.

(3) If the time difference isn't too much, does it make sense to take the Krishnagiri route just because of the additional and more convenient breakfast options?

[anandhsub]

Originally Posted by naadopaasaka

(1) What's happening on the Hosur-Krishnagiri-Ambur route? What explains Google Maps' allergy to it?

(2) Any good options for breakfast between Bengaluru and Ranipet? Google Maps suggests Sree Krishna Grand, Nangali, but we might get there too early. Woody's Kolar might be an option too, but again, too early.

The issue isn't Hosur to Ambur, rather Kasturi Nagar to Hosur that makes this route much more time consuming.

Krishna grand is not easily accessible when going towards Chennai. You need to go till the toll to take an u turn. There is a hotel Sri varsha grand after the toll which is a bit more accessible.

I would say if you feel Krishna grand is too early, then better to go all the way till a2b arcot.

[binand]

Originally Posted by naadopaasaka

(1) What's happening on the Hosur-Krishnagiri-Ambur route? What explains Google Maps' allergy to it?

Probably because given your starting point, the Chittoor route is quicker (Google by default suggests the route that takes least time as the blue option). When I try it shows the Krishnagiri route.

You can force Google to take you through Krishnagiri by adding a stop there.

[naadopaasaka]

Thanks @anandhsub and @binand!

Considering that there's no specific problem on the Hosur route until after the point at which the two routes meet near Ranipet, I suppose it is easier to take a decision depending on what google maps says on the basis of live traffic. I suspect that if we're on time and leave at 0530, even the journey to Hosur shouldn't be a problem. More eateries on that route too.

I'll keep the forum posted on what we end up doing and how it goes.

[binand]

Originally Posted by naadopaasaka

I suspect that if we're on time and leave at 0530, even the journey to Hosur shouldn't be a problem.

The ORR problem is metro works - I saw last weekend that the Doddanekkundi flyover is blocked for traffic, for example.

Since you are starting from Kasturi Nagar I reckon inward OMR > Indira Nagar+Koramangala 100 ft Road > Madiwala > BETL might work out to be quicker at 5.30 AM.

[m8002?]

Originally Posted by naadopaasaka

Thanks @anandhsub and @binand!

Considering that there's no specific problem on the Hosur route until after the point at which the two routes meet near Ranipet, I suppose it is easier to take a decision depending on what google maps says on the basis of live traffic. I suspect that if we're on time and leave at 0530, even the journey to Hosur shouldn't be a problem. More eateries on that route too.

I'll keep the forum posted on what we end up doing and how it goes.

Any specific reason you want to drive through ORR and Hosur? The only advantage the Hosur route offers is a larger number of restaurants but comes with more traffic density till Krishnagiri.

In the time you come to Silkboard and E-city, you will be cruising on the Hoskote route.