[LonelyPlanet]

Planning to drive to Chennai via Chitoor route (since I stay in Indiranagar). This is my first trip to Chennai by road and had a few queries
- Condition of the Chitoor Road
- COCO Options on the way
- Eating joints
- RTO issues on non-state vehicles in TN
- Places of stay near US Consulate (yes its for visa)

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by LonelyPlanet

Places of stay near US Consulate (yes its for visa)

Most ideal is Palmgrove or Park Plaza (expensive) you can walk in 5 min. Maris, New Woodlands, DeeCee Manor Quality Inn Sabari, Raj Palace are few places that are in 2-4 km vicinity.

No issues with RTO or eating joints. Not much idea on fuel options, you should find some in older posts this thread.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by LonelyPlanet

Planning to drive to Chennai via Chitoor route (since I stay in Indiranagar). This is my first trip to Chennai by road and had a few queries
- Condition of the Chitoor Road
- COCO Options on the way
- Eating joints
- RTO issues on non-state vehicles in TN
- Places of stay near US Consulate (yes its for visa)

1) Good all throughout till Ranipet. (After you cross Mulbagal 4L, the road widening work is happening, but still good roads) Beyond Ranipet, once you join the 4L the road condition deteriorates.
2) BP COCO outlet (about 160 kms from IndiraNagar RTO) which comes on your left after Bangarupalayam town.
3) So many CCDs, Kamat near Kolar, Nandi Plaza after Bangarupalayam. Suggest you to go through this thread in detail.
4) Not usually. But the traffic police checks are heavy in Madras, so carry all documents with you and don't throw away the Toll receipts until you return back.
5) Again, people have discussed multiple times in this thread. Suggest you to find hotel near G.N.Chetty Road which is close by to US Consulate.

Note: Watch out for rash driving by Buses and Trucks in 2L road between Mulbagal to Ranipet, particularly if you are driving in dark.

-Ravi

[binand]

Originally Posted by LonelyPlanet

- COCO Options on the way

Since you're going via AP, there's no point not filling up in Chennai city itself. There's a Shell on the way somewhere between St. Thomas Mount and Porur.

[ckmraja]

Two weeks before traveled from Tambaram (Chennai) to Bangalore and back.

Conditions of the Road

Tambaram to Sriperumpudur via Manimangalam, Roads are OK Condition - 2 lane road all the way until the intersection in NH45,

From Sriperumpudur untill Kancheepuram its 4 lane, i would say the condition is not so good untill kaveripakkam

From Kaveripakkam untill Hosur its 6 lane with very good roads.

From Hosur to Athibelle, almost 4 or 5 bridges under construction, you can expect huge traffic during peak hours, need caution while driving in this section

From Athibelle to Silkboard, Elevated expressway helps

Toll rates - one way
1. Chennasamudram - Rs.35.00
2. Pallikonda - Rs.75.00
3. Vaniyambadi - Rs.70.00
4. Krishnagiri - Rs.60.00
5. Athibele - Rs.25.00
6. Electronic City - Rs.45.00

Total Toll from Tambaram to Silkboard - Rs.310

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by LonelyPlanet

Planning to drive to Chennai via Chitoor route (since I stay in Indiranagar). This is my first trip to Chennai by road and had a few queries
- Condition of the Chitoor Road
- COCO Options on the way
- Eating joints
- RTO issues on non-state vehicles in TN
- Places of stay near US Consulate (yes its for visa)

This being your first road trip, I would suggest you to stick to GQ wherein you have the luxury of 4/6 lane roads as against the 2 lane roads on chittor route.

For my visa interview, i stayed in Quality Inn Sabari in T Nagar.

[ampere]

If people have not noticed, there is a new CCD close to Pallikonda toll. In case if you are driving towards Bangalore, you have more CCD after the one before the Penukonda toll (along with the COCO bunk).

This new one I think is around Ambur, hardly about 25km from Pallikonda CCD.

Originally Posted by ampere

Penukonda toll

It is Pallikonda toll plaza.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

It is Pallikonda toll plaza.

Yes, its Pallikonda and not Penukonda. Thanks for pointing. I have reported the post to fix it.

[suresh_gs]

Folks

A small query. Is there a way of avoiding Chennasamudram toll (near walajahpet). How are the road conditions of the alternate road ?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

Folks

A small query. Is there a way of avoiding Chennasamudram toll (near walajahpet). How are the road conditions of the alternate road ?

Sriperumbudur-Manimangalam (or Oragadam) -Tambaram.
But this mainly helps for folks in south Chennai.

I use the Manimangalam road all the time.

You need to drive till Rajiv Gandhi memorial and take a U come back and get off the 4-lane.

[hamster]

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

Folks

A small query. Is there a way of avoiding Chennasamudram toll (near walajahpet). How are the road conditions of the alternate road ?

Don't think So.
Chennasamudram toll is where the route from Hosur and the route from Chittoor Merges.
Not sure whether you are asking for Chennasamudram toll or for the Nemili toll(after sriperumbudur). Believe ampere is pointing out to the last toll plaza in the B'lore - Chennai.


On the other hand, went on a chennai trip on Friday Morning and returned back yesterday night. The onward trip was good, but the return trip took an hour longer just because of waiting in the long queue at Krishnagiri toll. Took us 50 minutes to pay the toll. .

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by ampere

Sriperumbudur-Manimangalam (or Oragadam) -Tambaram.
But this mainly helps for folks in south Chennai.

I use it all the Manimangalam road all the time.

You need to drive till Rajiv Gandhi memorial and take a U come back and get off the 4-lane.

Hello Amp, You are referring to the last toll. I am talking about the previous toll near Walajahpet. (Where Old Madras Road and NH46 meet)

[ampere]

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

Hello Amp, You are referring to the last toll. I am talking about the previous toll near Walajahpet. (Where Old Madras Road and NH46 meet)

Sorry. I thought you meant the last toll. Walajahpet, I am afraid I think, it cant be avoided.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by ampere

Sorry. I thought you meant the last toll. Walajahpet, I am afraid I think, it cant be avoided.

From what I know, this toll can't be avoided. When going from Bangalore, the Walajahpet road merges onto NH 46 and about 1-2Km later is the toll.
In the return direction, after the toll you will find the turn off to Walajahpet.
Due to this, When going from Bangalore I think we end up paying the toll for one section of NH 46 though we took Old Madras Road - not too sure about this but I believe it is the case