[Mubeen]

An update on the Poonamalle - Walajahpet toll road

http://www.financialexpress.com/econ...ilders/272706/

The Essel group has been playing truant for a while now. They don't seem to be committed to this project. There were similar issues raised prior to starting work in 2013 as well. Hope the project goes to L&T. Their stretch is the best I've seen.

[Turbohead]

Originally Posted by Mubeen

An update on the Poonamalle - Walajahpet toll road

http://www.financialexpress.com/econ...ilders/272706/

The Essel group has been playing truant for a while now. They don't seem to be committed to this project. There were similar issues raised prior to starting work in 2013 as well. Hope the project goes to L&T. Their stretch is the best I've seen.

L&T is also one of the most expensive too. They used to produce really smooth roads like the Krisnagiri- Salem highway. Now though, it's bumpy.

[NPV]

What is the best way to get to VGP Prabhu Nagar (Perumbakkam Road) from Kancheepuram after lunch at Regency (GRT) ?
How are the State highway roads - Walajahbad, Vandalur, etc ?
Google is suggesting this route - Link

[searacer932]

Originally Posted by NPV

What is the best way to get to VGP Prabhu Nagar (Perumbakkam Road) from Kancheepuram after lunch at Regency (GRT) ?
How are the State highway roads - Walajahbad, Vandalur, etc ?
Google is suggesting this route - Link

You could take the blue route highlighted by Google. Please note the roads will be congested when you near Tambaram.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by searacer932

You could take the blue route highlighted by Google. Please note the roads will be congested when you near Tambaram.

Thanks!
How about this one ? Only difference is the portion circled. Instead of going all the way till the Vandalur junction, can we take this road to the left ?
Map Link

Map image here:

[hserus]

Originally Posted by NPV

Thanks!
How about this one ? Only difference is the portion circled. Instead of going all the way till the Vandalur junction, can we take this road to the left ?
Map Link

Map image here:
Attachment 1540633

That takes you through west tambaram (Selaiyur etc). That is a single long road, mostly smooth - but careful as there are occasional groups of stray cattle happily resting on / beside the road's median.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by hserus

That takes you through west tambaram (Selaiyur etc). That is a single long road, mostly smooth - but careful as there are occasional groups of stray cattle happily resting on / beside the road's median.

From the map, it seems that is better to via Mudichur road since there is just the junction with the Chennai ORR (is there an underpass or flyover here ?) and after that one can get on to the Tambaram-Velachery road directly.

As compared to that if one stayed on the Vandalur road, ends up at the Tamabram flyover (several junctions there and difficult for a first timer to easily spot the road to take).
Hence the above plan, let me know if that's a good idea

[hserus]

Originally Posted by NPV

Is compared to that if one stayed on the Vandalur road, ends up at the Tamabram flyover (several junctions there and difficult for a first timer to easily spot the road to take).
Hence the above plan, let me know if that's a good idea

The junctions are clearly signposted and there's always google maps

Don't worry it is a straightforward route.

[Makin Rulesz]

Originally Posted by NPV

From the map, it seems that is better to via Mudichur road since there is just the junction with the Chennai ORR (is there an underpass or flyover here ?) and after that one can get on to the Tambaram-Velachery road directly

For crossing the ORR, you will take the underpass, not much confusion here. The section highlighted in your previous post is 2 lane road separated by divider and mostly in decent condition.

As compared to that if one stayed on the Vandalur road, ends up at the Tamabram flyover (several junctions there and difficult for a first timer to easily spot the road to take).
Hence the above plan, let me know if that's a good idea

You need to take the ramp from GST to climb the flyover, and take the second exit at the roundabout towards Tambaram.
It is better to take the first route, since sometimes the traffic around Vandalur could get chaotic depending on your time of travel.

By the way, I stay near to your destination place, so in case of any help, you can reach me. I will PM my number

[NPV]

Thanks @searacer932, @hserus and @Makin Rulesz for all the inputs, had a peaceful drive.

Took the Kancheepuram-Chengalpet Road (SH 58)-Walajahbad-Oragadam-Mudichur Road (SH 48) and Velachery-Tambaram road (SH 110) to get to Perumbakkam and reached in about 2 hours.

SH 58 is 2 laned and narrow at some places but road conditions are good with the odd rough patch. From the SH 48 turn off, it becomes a 4 laned road with median but not very wide. After the Apollo tyres factory at Oragadam, 6 laning work is in progress so there are several deviations with 2 lanes usable for traffic in both directions but wasn't too slow since traffic was low. The construction zone continues till the Mudichur road turn off to left near Mannivakkam. From here it becomes 2 lane road with median and quite narrow. It goes below the Chennai ORR and gets you to the flyover roundtana near Tambaram and the second exit joins the Velachery-Tambaram road. This road is quite wide with many traffic signals and road widening work. Since it was late afternoon, traffic was manageable.

Next day, took the Velachery road to get to T Nagar in the afternoon. Nearing Mount Road, the traffic was very heavy especially at the large junction before CIT Nagar (Anna Nagar ?) due to Metro construction work. Took almost 1.5-2 hours to reach T Nagar.
And, the usual drama around Panagal Park, there are probably more humans on the roads here than vehicles

[Gokrish]

Originally Posted by NPV

Next day, took the Velachery road to get to T Nagar in the afternoon. Nearing Mount Road, the traffic was very heavy especially at the large junction before CIT Nagar (Anna Nagar ?) due to Metro construction work. Took almost 1.5-2 hours to reach T Nagar.
And, the usual drama around Panagal Park, there are probably more humans on the roads here than vehicles

The junction you are referring here is CIT Nagar, Nandanam and not Anna Nagar. The road next DSC Hyundai Show room at this junction will lead to T Nagar Bus Terminus via South Usman Road. The stretch from Saidapet Junction till Gemini Flyover is in a complete mess nowadays due to Metro work and the traffic chaos is intense during peak hours!

[manickaraj]

Recently on Aug 15th holiday I did Bangalore-Chennai trip.
After Essel Walajahapet toll gate the road (> 110 km stretch) was pretty bad in condition that the patchy worked road did slow down the speed to <80 kmph. The toll 45 Rs. is not justified at all. The 3 lane widening seems stopped or I am seeing in the same state for a quite a long time now.

[concorde24]

Originally Posted by manickaraj

Recently on Aug 15th holiday I did Bangalore-Chennai trip.
After Essel Walajahapet toll gate the road (> 110 km stretch) was pretty bad in condition that the patchy worked road did slow down the speed to <80 kmph. The toll 45 Rs. is not justified at all. .

Oh yeah, this weekend was specially worse on Chennai - Kanchipuram segment of Bangalore highway. As per my friend, T.Nagar to kanchipuram trip took 3 hours instead of normal 1.5 hours. From kanchipuram, he came back via Tambaram in 2 hours instead of taking the same route back

[binand]

Came to Chennai for some personal work. Started at 7, and at 12 was turning off the GQ at Sriperumbudur towards Oragadam (with a 45-minute fuel+breakfast break in between at BPCL/A2B Shoolagiri). I thought that was a very good run - in fact, did Krishnagiri-Pallikonda toll to toll in about 70 minutes (100 km). More enterprising drivers might be able to manage this in less than an hour.

The Oragadam-Vandalur stretch is being 6-laned. Which tells me how long it has been since I came to Chennai - last time I came bulk of this sector was single carriageway. :-) What is the status of the alternative route from Sriperumbudur to Vandalur via Manimangalam - is it all good roads?

It seems to me Bangalore-Chennai is now possible within 5 hours. By which I mean Hosur-Sriperumbudur (270 km) in more or less 3 hours.

Now what they need to do is to expand the capacity of the toll booths. Apart from fixing the terrible stretch after Chennasamudram toll towards Sriperumbudur.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by binand

The Oragadam-Vandalur stretch is being 6-laned. Which tells me how long it has been since I came to Chennai - last time I came bulk of this sector was single carriageway. :-) What is the status of the alternative route from Sriperumbudur to Vandalur via Manimangalam - is it all good roads?

If you plan to head on radial ring road via Pallavaram, Manimangalam makes much more sense.

It seems to me Bangalore-Chennai is now possible within 5 hours. By which I mean Hosur-Sriperumbudur (270 km) in more or less 3 hours.

Cant comment on timings. But it sure has improved. What has helped is Bangalore-Krishnagiri 6-lane. So Bangalore-Arcot can be covered swiftly.

And beyond is the bus and truck menace. Sriperumbudur-Tambaram-Destination can be deterministically managed in 1 hour easily