[ssjr0498]

Hello All,

does anyone know the road conditions of the route (marked in red) below?



Is this road doable in a low sedan?

[itwasntme]

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/.../115189500.cms

How is the integration planned with the STRR, this new BCE and the existing Kolar highway?

[binand]

Originally Posted by itwasntme

How is the integration planned with the STRR, this new BCE and the existing Kolar highway?

There's a trumpet interchange with STRR at Chandrapura on the outskirts of Hoskote. And at Kolathur (another village outside Hoskote), a large cloverleaf interchange connects STRR with NH75 - Kolar highway.

[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by binand

There's a trumpet interchange with STRR at Chandrapura on the outskirts of Hoskote. And at Kolathur (another village outside Hoskote), a large cloverleaf interchange connects STRR with NH75 - Kolar highway.

So the first interchange is between STRR and BCE? Any idea if that will also be fully operational by end of this month, or pending completion?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by binand

There's a trumpet interchange with STRR at Chandrapura on the outskirts of Hoskote. And at Kolathur (another village outside Hoskote), a large cloverleaf interchange connects STRR with NH75 - Kolar highway.

Originally Posted by itwasntme

So the first interchange is between STRR and BCE? Any idea if that will also be fully operational by end of this month, or pending completion?

For BCE - STRR (South to Hosur) interchange to open, this section of STRR till Hosur should actually be ready for use. Else this interchange exit will have no use.

Once it comes up, one usage which I can think off: BCE STRR Hosur Exit --> STRR --> Malur Road Exit --> Baglur-Malur Road --> Chikka Tirupati - Gunjur --> Varthur


Gunjur is going to get even more choked!

[GeeTee TSI]

I had a Bangalore Kanchipuram drive which also included a short visit to Chennai.

Started from Yelahanka around 7 am with a breakfast halt at A2B Attibele. An uneventful drive around NH44 till the Kanchipuram arch entrance off NH4. The stretch from Walajahpet although riddled with diversions still, is the most driveable that I have experienced in years (goes to show the really low bar). Arrived at TTDC around 1pm, a lovely property with abundant parking and reasonably modern rooms. I didn't visit the restaurant at all and just ordered basic curd rice room service (staff themselves recommended a restaurant in the shopping street)

Started our evening temple visits around 04:30 pm thanks to an auto arranged via the front desk. We were 3 and sort of squeezed into the auto but glad I didn't have to drive through the narrow lanes of the town in my Octavia.

Covered Varadaraja perumal, Ekambaranathar and Kumara Kottam temples, our thoughtful auto driver made sure my parents did not have to walk much (happy to share the contact via DM). Dinner was at Nithya Amirtham restaurant, the local favourite it seemed.


The next day we were joined by my uncle and aunt from Chennai (in their Gen 3 Octavia, although missed a picture of the two generations!) Started the day with breakfast again at the same restaurant and then covered the following
Kamakshi Amman temple
Ulagalandha Perumal temple
Kailasanathar temple
Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam




The driver driven Octavia struggled through the narrow lanes with three point turns and parking (while I cringed from our auto). Checked out of TTDC closer to noon and we had a whim to visit Vazhakatheshwarar temple (One who resolves conflicts!) before starting for Chennai.

Reached Madipakkam around 2:30 pm and started back to Bangalore by 04:30 pm. The return drive progress was extremely slow till Arcot, with arrival at Yelahanka well past midnight

[av94]

I stay near Bellandur and planning to start from Bengaluru at around 1:30 PM and travelling to Valmiki Nagar in Thiruvalluvar Nagar Area. Google maps shows around 340 km irrespective of the route - Krishnagiri or Chittoor. I see lot of discussion in the thread on the same, but I understood both the routes have enough diversions. Can you suggest me which route I should take? I drive a compact SUV, BTW.

[Jazzybala]

Originally Posted by av94

I stay near Bellandur and planning to start from Bengaluru at around 1:30 PM and travelling to Valmiki Nagar in Thiruvalluvar Nagar Area. Google maps shows around 340 km irrespective of the route - Krishnagiri or Chittoor. I see lot of discussion in the thread on the same, but I understood both the routes have enough diversions. Can you suggest me which route I should take? I drive a compact SUV, BTW.

You are better off taking the hosur route, the time spent traversing across to old madras road could get you well past electronic city. There are a few diversions till just Ambur. From there to Vellore is smooth(ish) tarmac but after Vellore and especially after Wallajah there are plenty of diversions and the road quality significantly deteriorates from Kanchipuram to basically all the way to Chennai.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by av94

I stay near Bellandur and planning to start from Bengaluru at around 1:30 PM and travelling to Valmiki Nagar in Thiruvalluvar Nagar Area. Google maps shows around 340 km irrespective of the route - Krishnagiri or Chittoor. I see lot of discussion in the thread on the same, but I understood both the routes have enough diversions. Can you suggest me which route I should take? I drive a compact SUV, BTW.

Originally Posted by Jazzybala

You are better off taking the hosur route, the time spent traversing across to old madras road could get you well past electronic city. There are a few diversions till just Ambur. From there to Vellore is smooth(ish) tarmac but after Vellore and especially after Wallajah there are plenty of diversions and the road quality significantly deteriorates from Kanchipuram to basically all the way to Chennai.

Not to confuse or contradict, but actually i would advise you other way around. Sorry Jazzybala

Given the time you start from Bangalore is 1.30 pm, there won't be much traffic in Old Madras Road compared to the volume of traffic crossing EC , Attibelle and all the handful of flyover constructions in service lanes that will slow you down regardless.

Yes, there are about 4 flyover/underpass construction in OMR too till Nangli toll, but given the volume of traffic is significantly less, its not a pain to be honest.

The last 100 kms after chennasamudram toll is anyway same and have to go through the pain no matter what.

So, in short, do take Old Madras Road post lunch and you can comfortably reach Madras for dinner. Ensure you read below posts regarding diversion options for Bommasamudram railway gate construction.

-Ravi

[binand]

Originally Posted by ravib

The last 100 kms after chennasamudram toll is anyway same and have to go through the pain no matter what.

Last couple of times, from Chittoor I went via Thiruthani-Thiruvallur, joining NH4 at Thirumazhisai. It was a somewhat better drive than via Kanchipuram though the Chennai-Tirupati highway (which is what this route takes) is a somewhat high-traffic single carriageway road. Plus Thiruvallur city doesn't have a bypass.

[av94]

Originally Posted by av94

I stay near Bellandur and planning to start from Bengaluru at around 1:30 PM and travelling to Valmiki Nagar in Thiruvalluvar Nagar Area. Google maps shows around 340 km irrespective of the route - Krishnagiri or Chittoor. I see lot of discussion in the thread on the same, but I understood both the routes have enough diversions. Can you suggest me which route I should take? I drive a compact SUV, BTW.

I ended up taking the Krishnagiri route and I was not disappointed. I was able to maintain 100-110 k mph from Krishnagiri to Ambur and partly until Vellore. The last 100 km took somewhat like 2:30 hours. End to end it took 6:30 hours including a short fiteen min break. Now I’ll be returning from Chennai tomorrow around 1:30 PM. Wondering what route to take again 😂. Curious about Chittor route

[ampere]

Another way I realized the KA part of the Bangalore-Chennai expressway can be used (if that opens early).

Drive till Sundarapalaya exit on the expressway. This is 10 km before V Kota. Drive to V Kota and there on to Gudiyatam. From here one can get on the Vellore 6-lane at Pallikonda and continue. This will avoid the entire Hosur-Krishnagiri-Ambur mess as well as the Chitoor-Ranipet mess.

This also is a great way for people to drive to Katpadi (and academic places like VIT). They just have to go past Gudiyatam and enter Katpadi. Gudiyatam is getting a bypass on NH75 which well help bypass the town as well.

Only Katpadi bypass is an open question. I do see a clear connecting road coming up close to VIT connecting to Vellore-Kanchi 6-lane past Walaja toll.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by ampere

Another way I realized the KA part of the Bangalore-Chennai expressway can be used (if that opens early).

I had written the same here (The Bangalore - Chennai Expressway) about a month back. It has its own set of challenges like narrower ghat section, Gudiyatham and Pallikonda town without bypasses. So best suited for off season times without any expectation of saving time.

No sense in going beyond Pallikonda.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by narayans80

No sense in going beyond Pallikonda.

Gudiyatam has a bypass on 75. So one can head straight to Katpadi. And there is new bridge coming up on Palar close to VIT. if one can manage this, then yes, we can beat the Walaja toll.

The only fly in the ointment is lack of bypasses in Katpadi.

[srvm]

Had to visit Chennai for a funeral.
Left CV Raman Nagar at 3pm on Thursday. Reached Selaiyur at 11.15pm. one hour for fuel+tea+ dinner breaks.
Went via Chitoor town, Ponnai, Ranipet, Sriperumbudur, Mudichur, Tambaram. Chittoor took 25 mins to cross (6.55pm to 7.20pm). Typical, chaotic town traffic.
Roads are a bit narrow in the beginning but safe and good to travel after dusk (via Anandapuram, Thengal).

Came back on Friday. Again started at 3pm from Perambur. Reached home at 11.30pm. again one hour for bio+food breaks. Took 3 hours to cross Kanchipuram itself. Horrible traffic. Just TRUCKS everywhere in all lanes of all sizes. Took Vellore - Chittoor - Kolar route. Many poor sections in the Katpadi - AP border section. After dusk, with so many oncoming buses and trucks, it was a challenge.

Also, the diversions between Chennasamudram and Sriperumbudur remain painful.