[Madrasin_selvan]

Originally Posted by venkyhere

Friends,

I'm having confusion regarding how to enter into "chittoor-route" when going from chennai to bangalore.
Attaching a screenshot of gmaps below, with colours denoting the different possible options, after coming out of chennasamudram toll plaza (black arrows denote the staring and finishing points on this screenshot).

5. Between green and pink, which is better ?

I always take the green route as it is much more peaceful than red as you can avoid lot of 2 Wheelers. If you are going at peak hours chances are you are going to get stuck behind trucks and 2 wheelers while going through red route.

[venkyhere]

Originally Posted by rejika

When I just checked now, gmap is showing the green option. So may it was a temporary diversion when you checked ? I am driving to Chennai from Bangalore ( KR Puram) tomorrow and back on Saturday and planning to take the Chittoor route.

It showed green for me as well. However, I wanted to force gmaps to show me the red route, as it has smallest distance spent in 'town traffic'. However, any attempts that I made, to drag and force google to align with red, met with stiff resistance and google gave me blue instead. That's the reason why I posted the query here.

[ssbiitm]

@venkyhere - I am really surprised at Google maps not allowing you to follow the red route. When I drove to Bangalore on 23rd December, Gmaps actually showed me this route. However, there is one point - Gmaps wants you to enter the service lane way before may be about a km or so ahead of the ramp that turns left on to the Palar bridge. It does not know that there is an exit to the service lane just before the ramp. So, if you cross the entry point a km ahead, Gmaps immediately re-routes you to cross the bridge, take a U turn and return via the "blue route". I have see this issue over the past 4-5 months. I just ignore Google Maps when I cross the first service lane entry point about a km before the bridge and then enter the service lane just before the ramp to the bridge (of course Gmaps does a lot of re-routing during this period along with the standard voice alerts). Once in the service lane I take the underbridge immediately and go to the other side and follow the curve on the "red" route ( and by that time, Gmaps "cools down" and starts giving me the next set of directions. I have found this option to be the best to get towards Chittoor. Yes, you do encounter a lot of two wheelers and cars, but the flow is typically quite smooth. I have not seen many trucks in the initial stages of that route though.

Where I do have a problem is when I try to return by that route. Gmaps shows me the "red" route, but just at the start of the semi-circular part, there is police barrier that seems to suggest no entry to the curved part (though I have not really spotted a no entry sign there). Many vehicles simply go past the barrier and then if I follow suit, I get to the Chennai highway easily. On the occasions when I decide not go past the barrier, I have almost got lost in that area with Gmaps making it even worse by asking me to take lanes that are almost as narrow as my car. Does anyone have a suggestion as to what is the best thing to do there? Would be grateful for an answer as I plan to drive to and fro Bangalore in the coming week.

Thanks and cheers,
ssbiitm

[venkyhere]

Originally Posted by ssbiitm

@venkyhere - I am really surprised at Google maps not allowing you to follow the red route. When I drove to Bangalore on 23rd December, Gmaps actually showed me this route. However, there is one point - Gmaps wants you to enter the service lane way before may be about a km or so ahead of the ramp that turns left on to the Palar bridge. It does not know that there is an exit to the service lane just before the ramp. So, if you cross the entry point a km ahead, Gmaps immediately re-routes you to cross the bridge, take a U turn and return via the "blue route". I have see this issue over the past 4-5 months. I just ignore Google Maps when I cross the first service lane entry point about a km before the bridge and then enter the service lane just before the ramp to the bridge (of course Gmaps does a lot of re-routing during this period along with the standard voice alerts). Once in the service lane I take the underbridge immediately and go to the other side and follow the curve on the "red" route ( and by that time, Gmaps "cools down" and starts giving me the next set of directions. I have found this option to be the best to get towards Chittoor. Yes, you do encounter a lot of two wheelers and cars, but the flow is typically quite smooth. I have not seen many trucks in the initial stages of that route though.

A mystery, yes. Thanks for clarifying.

Originally Posted by ssbiitm

Where I do have a problem is when I try to return by that route. Gmaps shows me the "red" route, but just at the start of the semi-circular part, there is police barrier that seems to suggest no entry to the curved part (though I have not really spotted a no entry sign there). Many vehicles simply go past the barrier and then if I follow suit, I get to the Chennai highway easily. On the occasions when I decide not go past the barrier, I have almost got lost in that area with Gmaps making it even worse by asking me to take lanes that are almost as narrow as my car. Does anyone have a suggestion as to what is the best thing to do there? Would be grateful for an answer as I plan to drive to and fro Bangalore in the coming week.

In the below pics the white is the "red" in reverse and the orange circle represents (I think) your point of confusion/barricade. Clearly a building is jutting out into the road (probably some influential building owner who couldn't be budged when road was widened into two-way) and the root cause for the craziness here. The dotted white line is probably what you have done whenever you have ignored the barricade/bollard and wrestled your way through. According to dirt pattern on the road and according to gmaps, its the yellow that needs to be used, to work around this crazy orange circle point. However, if one is doing the yellow, might as well do the green and be done with this orange circle nonsense. Which is what I think @Madrasin_selvan is suggesting in one of the posts above.

[ssbiitm]

@venkyhere - Thank you so much. Yes, I will simply do the green the next time (which hopefully will be this coming Sunday!).

Cheers!
ssbiitm

[anandhsub]

Originally Posted by ssbiitm

However, there is one point - Gmaps wants you to enter the service lane way before may be about a km or so ahead of the ramp that turns left on to the Palar bridge. It does not know that there is an exit to the service lane just before the ramp.

When I last drove Chennai-Bangalore the new year weekend, this first exit was closed, and one had to anyway take the exit just before the ramp. I hoped Google would have rerouted it given the first exit is now closed, but looks like it might have only been a temporary closure.

As for the return, I follow what srvm had mentioned sometime back.

Originally Posted by srvm

I have completely stopped going via Walajahpet.


Attachment 2471325

This is the typical route through Ranipet I take while doing Chitoor route (both directions). Never taken me more than 10-12 minutes to cross Ranipet in this route. The main railway overbridge is under widening. Hence this route goes via the railway overbridge near Scudder Memorial Hospital.

[venkyhere]

Update 1: did the green option for Chittor route (both directions) and it was fine - quick and smooth surfaced.

Update 2: Some stretches between TN/AP border and Chittoor are downright horrible. Both in terms of surface and also in terms of behavior. Buses, trucks and dost/ace/traveller type vehicles honk like crazy, bully us to one side and force unforced errors, disallowing an optimal damage-limiting navigation tbrough lunar craters. Also, throughout AP portion, the 4L stretches of this highway are concrete, didn't like it one bit. KA side is proper tarmac.

Update 3: Large portions of the Chennasamudram-Ponamallee stretch is finished (with and without lane markings) and of course there are service road diversions. But it's far less painful than even 6 months ago. Unless it's peak hour (mornings and evenings/night) I don't see a reason to use Walajabad-oragadam detour at all anymore. Surface on the main route is far less punishing, many service road bumps and potholes are fixed.

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by venkyhere

Also, throughout AP portion, the 4L stretches of this highway are concrete, didn't like it one bit. KA side is proper tarmac.

Update 3: Large portions of the Chennasamudram-Ponamallee stretch is finished (with and without lane markings) and of course there are service road diversions. But it's far less painful than even 6 months ago. Surface on the main route is far less punishing, many service road bumps and potholes are fixed.

1. I also dislike those long concrete stretches. No fun at all. Tarmac, by contrast, is such a pleasure to drive on.
2. Happy to hear that large parts of the road from Chennasamudram onwards are better now. However, are the flyovers also done? Or are those still ‘stonehenges-in-the-making’?

[DasAuto1985]

Originally Posted by DasAuto1985

From the last 3 months have been travelling back and forth in the Bangalore-Chennai route every 2 weeks, due to personal commitments. The commitments are such, that I ll need the car at both the locations, so travel by train/bus is ruled out. Always take the Hosur route as i stay near one of the Nice road exits. Below are some of my observations from the various trips in quick successions:

1. Due to road works, the "fun" part or the "peaceful" part of driving is almost nil. From last couple of times, have seen marked increase in traffic from Nice road exit in E-city till almost halfway upto Krishnagiri. Maybe because those were weekdays. If you are someone who got a new car with Cruise control and wants to try it out in this highway, well i got some very bad news for you.
   
2. The diversions have been discussed a lot, and nothing much to add to it. Maybe its psychological or not, but I feel the diversions have become manageable now, with moving traffic. As mentioned by someone else, lots of potholes have started appearing in the diversions due to rains
   
3. 2 wheelers - Boy, if there was a prize for the most whining in a single topic, I will get the prize for this. 2 kms +- Vellore, they are worst. Not a single person wears helmet. One thing i have understood, its not enough that I reach safely, I have to make sure these idiots reach their home safely too, even though they are hell bent on making that difficult for me
   
4. If you see a red Virtus in a toll lane, avoid that lane. That red guy is me and whichever lane i am that lane will always have a guy who is hearing the name Fastag for the first time in his life
   
5. I always wonder why I don't see any female drivers in the highway, especially between 2 cities which have quite a few of them. Atlast during the last trip to Chennai, saw a lady driving a Safari, and driven quite well too
   
6. if you suddenly feel that roads are empty as you near Vaniyambadi, don't worry. everybody will be parked in Sai Sangeeth to have breakfast. That's the main reason i avoid it like the plague. Sree Saravana Bhavan, Krishna Bhavan, Aryas, A2b are some of the safe joints. when going towards Chennai, you can park your car in the side of highway (way off the road) and cross the road to A2B before Vaniyambadi. Do this only if you are desperate, due to the risks involved. Pro tip: Early in the morning, order something that would have been ordered by many(Idli, dosai, pongal), as the quality checks might not be that great. I ordered Rava masala dosa and there was no salt in the batter
   
7. Hydration breaks actually work. Makes you a calmer and more focused driver.
   
8. If you see an idiot driving rashly/overtaking aggressively, slow down and let him through. you know what they say about wrestling pigs
   
9. The only good sections of the roads, there is road pavement going on and that will slow you down further. Facepalm
   
10. Sriperumbudur - Manimangalam route is done and that is a big advantage. The road is littered with cattle, so be very careful. But would recommend this route any day over the Kundrathur Pallavaram route.
    
11. The ideal thing to do is dont keep a fixed time in mind and dont try to beat the G maps lady given time, cos if the diversions don't slow down, the cattle will, if cattle doesn't slow you down, the bridge construction will, if not that then road pavement will, if not that hunger will, and by then you would have reached E-city/Sriperumbudur and your speed will anyway be screwed. So just play that Ilayaraja song, smile at the idiots and the cows and the dogs, and keep driving on.

So the trips have continued through michaung cyclone, new year, pongal/sankranti and shall keep continuing.

1. One advantage of bad roads is that I didn't feel any marked difference driving on them after Michaung. I mean, the roads by default look like they have been battered by tsunami, so a small cyclone cannot do more damage than govt. inefficiency
2. From Bnglr-Chennai, the diversions have reduced in number, but the quality of roads in these diversions have worsened, with some really bad craters.
3. Worse thing is some of the newly laid parts have potholes, that too right in the middle of the road. The contractors should be sued and brought to justice..haha sometimes my sense of humor amuses me.
4. Next to Sai Sangeet, there is a new Star Biryani outlet and a KFC as well.
5. When going from BNG to MAA, there is a IOC COCO bunk. But there are 2 IOC bunks next to each other. The COCO is the one after Starbucks.
6. I feel Murugan idli has the best south Indian fare in the route, after thorough analysis of different options. I have started avoiding A2B because of aforementioned rava masala dosai fiasco.
7. I still haven't been able to find a tea/coffee shop(local ones and not the franchisees) which serve good tea/coffee in the route. Any inputs welcome.
8. If we do a psycho analysis of 2 wheeler drivers in the route, i feel most of them will have suicidal tendencies. Apart from mental illness, I cannot see any other reason for their behavior.
9. I drive a Virtus 1.0L and its been a steady companion. There are few rattling noises here and there but other than that its been solid.
10. One question to the forum - there is no service scheduled and there are no major issues with the car. Should i still get the service done for it, because of constant back and forth, or a modern day automobile can take this much workload in its stride?
11. Given all the issues, one week of not driving gets the itch going and i look forward to the foggy morning look of the hillocks surrounding krishnagiri. Guess that's why i am in this forum.
12. Off topic - In between, did Bnglr-MYS in the "expressway" and boy oh boy, am i gonna rant or what. Its fast but the density of idiots per sq.km is double that of what I see in this route. But that's for another day.

[galahad]

Dear all

I need to do Chennai (sholinganallur) to Yelahanka New Town on 14th (and return the next day).

Looking for break options with senior friendly restrooms (eg with Handrail), and without too many steps to climb to reach from parking.

Happy to take either Hosur or Hoskote route based on this.

[KK_HakunaMatata]

Originally Posted by DasAuto1985

So the trips have continued through michaung cyclone, new year, pongal/sankranti and shall keep continuing.

Hey DasAuto,

I would be driving to Chennai this Saturday morning, with four up in my Jetta. I have heard about mant diversions/ bad roads and read your post. Could you please let me know how is the condition now and what I should keep in mind considering I am driving a Jetta with four up.

Would you otherwise suggest the Kolar route?

KK

[ravib]

Originally Posted by galahad

Dear all

I need to do Chennai (sholinganallur) to Yelahanka New Town on 14th (and return the next day).

Looking for break options with senior friendly restrooms (eg with Handrail), and without too many steps to climb to reach from parking.

Happy to take either Hosur or Hoskote route based on this.

Since you are heading to Yelahanka, you should take Ranipet-Chittoor-Kolar route.
For senior friendly restrooms, with just couple of steps or with small ramp, you can stop on these places.

Murugan idly Shop (Before Kaveripakkam) - https://maps.app.goo.gl/8wgBVVX5VLNcB6jm8

Nandi Food Plaza (After Chittoor Mahasamudram Toll Plaza) - https://maps.app.goo.gl/xFMK7QDNQsZk1WqT6

Highway star food court (after Mulbagal Toll plaza - but on the right side, so need to take U turn) - https://maps.app.goo.gl/qsFVfc594XUXCTbr8

Originally Posted by KK_HakunaMatata

Hey DasAuto,

I would be driving to Chennai this Saturday morning, with four up in my Jetta. I have heard about mant diversions/ bad roads and read your post. Could you please let me know how is the condition now and what I should keep in mind considering I am driving a Jetta with four up.

Would you otherwise suggest the Kolar route?

KK

The bad roads are common regardless of Kolar route or Hosur route - from Chennasamudram Toll plaza to Sriperumbudur. No escape. The only choice is to drive slowly for the last 100 kms and take diversions with care for a Low GC sedans.

-Ravi

[Ananthponraj]

Originally Posted by galahad

Looking for break options with senior friendly restrooms (eg with Handrail), and without too many steps to climb to reach from parking.

[quote=ravib;5718632]Since you are heading to Yelahanka, you should take Ranipet-Chittoor-Kolar route.
For senior friendly restrooms, with just couple of steps or with small ramp, you can stop on these places.


In addition to above you can also check Sree Krishna Grand (after Nangli Toll Plaza)- https://maps.app.goo.gl/gCLh3NTDNN4KCJ51A

[galahad]

Thanks. I'm at the Nandi food plaza. The restrooms are senior friendly

[DasAuto1985]

Originally Posted by KK_HakunaMatata

Hey DasAuto,

I would be driving to Chennai this Saturday morning, with four up in my Jetta. I have heard about mant diversions/ bad roads and read your post. Could you please let me know how is the condition now and what I should keep in mind considering I am driving a Jetta with four up.

Would you otherwise suggest the Kolar route?

KK

Depends on where you start from Bnglr. if you are starting from KR Puram, Marathahalli, Whitefield areas then Kolar route is better option. From Hosur to Arcot, the roads are pretty good with bottlenecks in certain places. The Chennasamudram toll to Chennai route is common for both Kolar and Hosur route, so you cannot avoid that, and that is where the diversions are. Since its a sedan, be careful of deep potholes in unexpected places in the diversions. Better to drive slow in that part to avoid nasty surprises.