[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by ravib

Shankar sir, were you watching or monitoring me 4 weeks back. I just did that wonderful nostalgia drive from Madras High Court- Parrys building in Parrys corner, and drove all the way till Santhome /Adyar.

Its indeed great, but this time of the year, weather is quite hot and so its better you plan for sunset time to see the nice places in day light after 5 pm or so.

-Ravi

Our family and extended family has had a long association with Madras both as natives and as visitors over generations. This particular drive that I suggested used to be one of the favourite Sunday evening pastimes of my late Granddad, my late Uncles and my late Mother’s. My Dad and I still go on that drive at times.

It is probably the last long uninterrupted enjoyable and historical driving route left in Madras, on which we can see a whole lot of places all in one go.

[shankar.balan]

A short update.
Dad and I had to visit Madras for a day. Left yesterday (Sat 29 Apr) 0530. Used the usual route via Krishnagiri, Sriperumbudur and Porur and all.
We were driving very leisurely and made 4 stops total, Coffee and rest break at Shoolagiri, stopped briefly at Murugan but it was very crowded, so we had breakfast at Sai Sangeet, a wash break at CCD Vellore and straight on to Madras.
Yes after Chennasamudram the usual road works were there but the surfaces werent too bad except for a couple of places.
After Sriperumbudur there was a straight run till the Porur Flyover where there was slow traffic. Also at St Thomas Mount slow traffic and again at IIT Flyover area slow traffic. But we had reached Porur Ramachandra Med College at 12. But reached Kotturpuram correctly at 1240. We had covered 338kms and the car had drunk 27 litres of petrol. Not bad at 12.5 odd kmpl.
Today (Sun 30 Apr) we took some advice from fellow Tbhp Member GS Ferrari, left Kotturpuram at 1015.. Used the Tambaram GST route. Passed Sanatorium and used the big Tambaram Ramp interchange all the way down and right past Vandalur to Vanagaram Village. Through that and straight to Poonamallee Byepass and on the Bangalore road. Indeed this Tambaram, Vandalur, Vanagaram, Sriperumbudur, is a good fast and route to take, with zero road and metro works and all. Stopped at Aaryaas after Vellore before the Walajahpet Toll at 1pm. Had a wash break and light bite. Left at 130pm. Then straight to Krishnagiri. Reached the Krishangiri Turnoff at 3pm. KA Border at 330pm. Home at 415pm.
All Normal driving both ways but today I drove faster than yesterday simply because there was significantly less traffic overall and nice empty roads making for a smooth run. (Dad took the on-the-road-pics with my phone on zoom)

[saisree]

How is the Tambaram- Manimangalam-Sri Prumbudur road? Planning a trip to Chittoor and hence wanted to check.

[arunramaswamy]

Originally Posted by saisree

How is the Tambaram- Manimangalam-Sri Prumbudur road? Planning a trip to Chittoor and hence wanted to check.

Had to take this route yesterday. All the trees have been removed and road extension work is going on, albeit in slow pace. So it will add extra time to your schedule. But is any day better than Porur-Poonthamallee stretch.

[saisree]

Originally Posted by arunramaswamy

All the trees have been removed and road extension work is going on, albeit in slow pace.

This is the sad part of this work. That canopy is gone forever. I took the Vandalur-Oragadam- Sri Perumbudut route as I was unclear of the road status. This route, though long, saves your suspension, tyres and gearbox

[anandhsub]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

Stopped at Aaryaas after Vellore before the Walajahpet Toll at 1pm.

I assume you mean Pallikonda and not Walajahpet? ( Chennasamudram)


Have done multiple Blr-Chennai-Blr runs in the past month and will be doing one more this coming weekend.

Since I did a night drive after a very long time had to use the Krishnagiri route ( It is sad a newly laid National Highway is unfit to be driven at night).

Had completely forgotten about the speed breakers from Attibele toll to Electronic City and nearly missed the first one. Thankfully braked hard and no vehicles behind to rear end.

I counted 5 in total, and it is insane these speed breakers were allowed to come up. I much prefer the TN method of putting up barricades.

[arun_josie]

Originally Posted by arun_josie

I drove Chennai - Bangalore, last Sunday. I counted at least 20 diversions(approx) till Krishnagiri. The road surface was good and I didn't face any traffic jam due to these diversions. It took me 6 hours(with two stops) from Pallikaranai to Bannerghatta Road (1:30PM - 7:30PM). From Pallikaranai, I took Vandalur - Oragadam and then took right @ Apollo plant.

I took the same route in reverse direction (Bangalore - Chennai), only difference was I started very early at 3:30 AM. This helped me to save 90 minutes, it took only 4H:30M to reach pallikaranai with one 10 mins stop.



The only change in the route was, I took the Sunguvarchadram route, and then took a left after Samsung manufacturing unit. There is a 1-2 Kms stretch of narrow road, thankfully I didn't get stuck behind any slow moving vehicle.

Any idea about the traffic condition during peak hours on this narrow stretch?

Originally Posted by anandhsub

Had completely forgotten about the speed breakers from Attibele toll to Electronic City and nearly missed the first one. Thankfully braked hard and no vehicles behind to rear end.

On this stretch, look out for the traffic lights, all these 5 speed breakers have traffic lights next to them.

I counted 5 in total, and it is insane these speed breakers were allowed to come up. I much prefer the TN method of putting up barricades.

Even I prefer barricades when compared to speed breakers.

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by anandhsub

I assume you mean Pallikonda and not Walajahpet? ( Chennasamudram)

You are right. Yes indeed it is Pallikonda.

[CaptBrat1845]

just got back from Mysore (via Bangalore).

As of 3rd May 2023, there are a total of 18 "Take Diversions" due to construction of
Flyovers at various places along the Bangalore - Chennai Stretch starting from
Ranipet Toll Plaza.
I am not counting the diversions before this, as they dont really affect the speed of transit.
Also, these 18 are until I turned off at Sriperumbudur, towards Oragadam.

Since I had to go towards Sholingnallur (OMR) this was the best way.

No idea about the diversions or road work from Sriperumbudur to Poonamallee.

If work goes on as seen, would estimate that the Highway should be ready by
End 2023-mid 2024 (allowing for delays due to monsoon) and other administrative delays as well.

[gopalnt]

Trying a car travel from Chennai to Bangalore for the first time (have used only Air/Train/Bus so far). When I see Google Maps, it is showing 2 route options - one through Krishnagiri and another one through Chittoor.

Which would be the best route to choose?

I am looking for restaurants which provide Millet based diet options en-route, preferably after about 1 hour from Chennai. Requesting our member friends to suggest the same.

[thanixravindran]

Originally Posted by gopalnt

Trying a car travel from Chennai to Bangalore for the first time (have used only Air/Train/Bus so far). When I see Google Maps, it is showing 2 route options - one through Krishnagiri and another one through Chittoor.

Which would be the best route to choose?

I am looking for restaurants which provide Millet based diet options en-route, preferably after about 1 hour from Chennai. Requesting our member friends to suggest the same.

Check the Chennai Bangalore Chennai thread in routes and questions section to decide Krishnagiri or Chittoor route. It will depend on where you start from Bangalore. If it is silk board side, just Krishnagiri will do. If it is on KR puram side, people prefer Chittor route. My personal preference is always Krishnagiri route due to better food options.

Sai Sangeet is a nice place to have millet based food. I generally used to stop there during my Bangalore to Chennai travel days. During summer they even used to provide Koozh

[m8002?]

Originally Posted by gopalnt

I am looking for restaurants which provide Millet based diet options en-route, preferably after about 1 hour from Chennai. Requesting our member friends to suggest the same.

There is a Shree Ramana's near Kanchipuram bye-pass that also has a lot of millet based and other "healthy" breakfast options. It will still be around 1.5-2 hours from Chennai given the road is under construction.

Of late, it has become a pit stop for bikers. So can get crowded on weekends.

[mpksuhas]

Did Bangalore - Chennai yesterday evening (18-05-23)

Started from HSR layout at 4.47 PM. It took a while to get on to Hosur road due to evening traffic, crossed Shoolagiri - HP COCO by 6.00 PM.

Past Krishnagiri, it was smooth sailing, even Ambur with the road work, didn't take much time thankfully. The same with Vellore.

Crossed Chennasamaduram toll at around 8.15 PM, as always things gets tricky past that. Its been around 5 months since my last trip to Chennai, compared to then the diversion due to work in progress sections has gone up in length. I didn't find much places where work was happening / looked like work is in progress, so I am assuming that the work is going in a slow pace still. Since it was night, not able to fully judge the same too.

A pleasant surprise was that past Sriperumbadur, widening to 6 lane is mostly done. Markings, random incomplete surfacing, incomplete sections are there, however its now much easier to drive on that section.

I don't have much hope on the Walajapet - Sriperumbadur section getting over anytime soon. Hope the new Chennai- Bangalore expressway will be done before that (second half of next year). Alas, that has been downgraded to a 4 lane road from earlier planned 6 lane and can expect NICE road like situation with trucks occupying both the lanes.

[venkyhere]

Originally Posted by mpksuhas

Did Bangalore - Chennai yesterday evening (18-05-23)

Started from HSR layout at 4.47 PM. It took a while to get on to Hosur road due to evening traffic, crossed Shoolagiri - HP COCO by 6.00 PM.

Past Krishnagiri, it was smooth sailing, even Ambur with the road work, didn't take much time thankfully. The same with Vellore.

Crossed Chennasamaduram toll at around 8.15 PM, as always things gets tricky past that. Its been around 5 months since my last trip to Chennai, compared to then the diversion due to work in progress sections has gone up in length. I didn't find much places where work was happening / looked like work is in progress, so I am assuming that the work is going in a slow pace still. Since it was night, not able to fully judge the same too.

A pleasant surprise was that past Sriperumbadur, widening to 6 lane is mostly done. Markings, random incomplete surfacing, incomplete sections are there, however its now much easier to drive on that section.

I don't have much hope on the Walajapet - Sriperumbadur section getting over anytime soon. Hope the new Chennai- Bangalore expressway will be done before that (second half of next year). Alas, that has been downgraded to a 4 lane road from earlier planned 6 lane and can expect NICE road like situation with trucks occupying both the lanes.

If we divide the 'past chennasamudram' into 3 sections :
A) Chennasamudram <--> Kanchipuram outer
B) Kanchipuram outer <--> Sriperumbudur
C) Sriperumbudur <--> Chennai

Kindly rate (anyone, not just @mpksuhas) these sections for road surface quality (potholes, sudden step changes, pizza topping patches) and getting stuck in bus stop points on the service road diversion.

[mankuthimma]

Originally Posted by ravib

Drove from Bangalore to Pallavaram yesterday 27th Mar.

.

12) Kundrathur to Pallavaram via Pammal is as usual , with smooth speed breakers and curvy roads, nothing different. However, watchout for cattle on the road.

Originally Posted by ravib

Please continue straight when you see Madha engineering college. No need to take ORR. Driving for about 1+ km, you will hit Kundrathur junction, then take left and immediately take right in that signal to go towards Anakaputhur, Pammal, Pallavaram to hit GST Road/Chrompet.

-Ravi

Hello Sir,
I have a trip coming up to Pallavaram soon. Your guidance on the same route is super useful !
If my destination is one of the mahals whose address says 200 ft radial road, old Pallavaram, your suggested route via Medha college- Kundrathur-Pammal still holds good ? (marked in blue arrow ) I think so because it seems to avoid going via Chromepet which I suspect could be traffic heavy ?
gmaps doesnt show this option, but keeps showing different alternatives depending upon time of the day, as shown in the attachment.
Just wanted to reconfirm the route again so that I dont get misled by gmaps routing algorithm at the last moment.