[naveen.raju]

Originally Posted by bbhavan

I am covering these states in the next week, as a part of mumbai-Cochin trip.

Do I need to have this certificate as a precaution?.

Not required upto 1 year and after that every 6 months. As everyone suggested, it's better to get this as it's just a matter of 75-80 bucks. Moreover, cops are really strict here in Cochin when it comes to pollution certificate. I was caught couple of times and surprisingly the first thing they asked was the PUC and not the insurance,RC book. Since you will be driving a Non KL reg vehicle, cops will try their best to extract some $$ from you. So it's better to get the PUC.

[bbhavan]

Originally Posted by naveen.raju

Since you will be driving a Non KL reg vehicle, cops will try their best to extract some $$ from you. So it's better to get the PUC.

Originally Posted by binand

I think it is the same everywhere - 1 year from date of registration. But it costs less than Rs. 100, so why not get one made anyway?

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

Its an investment of INR50-75 and the return of investment is peace of mind.Better to just get that thing done with and dusted.

Dear Naveen,Binand and Ranjitp1,

Yes, I agree, Having a peace of mind is definitely better than the effort of taking one PUC certificate. Surely will go for one before I leave from here,

Thanks friends,
bbhavan

[jacs]

Originally Posted by bbhavan

Dear Naveen,Binand and Ranjitp1,

Yes, I agree, Having a peace of mind is definitely better than the effort of taking one PUC certificate. Surely will go for one before I leave from here,

Thanks friends,
bbhavan

New vehicles come with a "Non-Polluting vehicle" sticker right? It should be valid for one year anywhere in India as per my understanding. Then yes PUC is must else they can fine upto INR 1000.

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by NPV

Were there police checkposts on the way where they stopped and asked for details of where you're coming from and where you're headed ?
Asking since there were 2 such checkposts (due to upcoming Karnataka elections) where we were stopped and asked to sign in a register with vehicle details. These were (i) when exiting Chamarajanagar town towards Kollegal where the road through the village ends and you merge onto the 'real' highway and (ii) near the left turn off towards Melkote/Somanathpur.

Yes, we also were stopped at these police checkposts. First one at Gundelpet near the junction where Battery and Ooty roads meet. The reason for you seeing Kerala registration vehicles stopped more may since they seems to have caught a KL car with 1.5 crore on Monday near Gundelpet. This was told to me by the policeman who checked my car.

Had seen few temporary checkposts made on Bangalore - Mysore route also while travelling to Kerala on 13th April. However was not stopped anywhere, actually didnt see anyone in the checkpost. May be since I was travelling early (3AM start from Bangalore)

[RSUDARSANAN]

Originally Posted by Boomerang

Hi Guyz, Just completed a round about trip from Bangalore to Thrissur Via Salem - Coimbatore - Walayar - Palakad - Vadakancherry - Thrissur.
Vadakancherry - Kuthiran - Pattikad: This stretch would need you to be cautious (nothing to be worried about). certain potholes to avoid. just regular gear change is needed. again...definitely do-able.
Kuthiran is good to go. Not much traffic. patched up. Irumbu Pallam is widened.

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Kuthiran: Bumpy ride for about 20kms, stop and go at two places, ideal for a day drive as most of the potholes can be negotiated. Fastest route during day time, if ready to compromise on comfort.

Originally Posted by nisam76

Drove from Bangalore to Pandalam yesterday (via Salem, CBE, Palaghat,Thrissur, EKM, Aleppy, Changanassery, Chengannur, Pandalam).Reached Thrissur by 4:00 AM. Except the last 20 Km stretch towards mannuthy, the road is in good shape. Reached EKM by 5:15 AM. (my ride : Baleno 2006 Lxi).

What started out to be BLR-TVM-Thiruvalla-Kochi-Trissur-Palghat-BLR (16-24 Apr) has gotten reduced to BLR-Kochi-BLR (19-21 Apr) and that too in Fast mode, afternoon departure, courtesy exigencies. So Kuthiran it is, after all

[sansvk]

Originally Posted by mpksuhas

Yes, we also were stopped at these police checkposts.

Its election season in Karnataka, so checking is expected. It was the same last time around.
Also remember being checked at Walayar during the last Kerala election time.

[coolclouds]

What is the fastest route between Vazhikadavu and Trichur for night travel?

I usually take Nilambur-Wandoor-Pandikkad-Perinthalmanna-Pattambi-Kulappully-Wadakkancherry-Trichur. Once local taxi guys at Vazhikadavu were suggesting two three alternate routes which I don't remember.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

What is the fastest route between Vazhikadavu and Trichur for night travel?

I usually take Nilambur-Wandoor-Pandikkad-Perinthalmanna-Pattambi-Kulappully-Wadakkancherry-Trichur. Once local taxi guys at Vazhikadavu were suggesting two three alternate routes which I don't remember.

I think one of them should be :

Kalikavu-Melatoor-Perinthalmanna.

But that route quite a twisty! But brilliant to drive. Dont know how is the condition today and also how good it is for night driving.

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

What is the fastest route between Vazhikadavu and Trichur for night travel?

I usually take Nilambur-Wandoor-Pandikkad-Perinthalmanna-Pattambi-Kulappully-Wadakkancherry-Trichur. Once local taxi guys at Vazhikadavu were suggesting two three alternate routes which I don't remember.

Your route is the fastest at night as hardly any traffic.the other option is to go via manjeri by not taking the turn towards wandoor.

[ThePunter]

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

Your route is the fastest at night as hardly any traffic.the other option is to go via manjeri by not taking the turn towards wandoor.

#update
Happened to travel between Pattambi and Perinthalmanna during the Vishu weekend. Have to say, it was in the best condition I have seen so far. Reason: the entire~24 km stretch is getting the auto-paved (read rubberised) surface. Hardly 3 to 4 km of work was remaining at the time I travelled, so it should be complete by now. And I do recollect- I had seen this stretch at its worst condition less than a year back and posted here about the same ;-)

Earlier, only the Perinthalmanna- Pulamanthole stretch that comes in Malappuram dt. was good (though twisty to the core). Thus this helped me to cut the time for my usual Pmna-Grvyr route to about 75 min without a sweat.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

Your route is the fastest at night as hardly any traffic.the other option is to go via manjeri by not taking the turn towards wandoor.

How is Manjeri-Perinthalmanna? I see people taking Manjeri mainly for Malappuram-Kottakal, instead of coming to Perinthalmanna.

[ThePunter]

Originally Posted by ampere

How is Manjeri-Perinthalmanna? I see people taking Manjeri mainly for Malappuram-Kottakal, instead of coming to Perinthalmanna.

Nilambur to Perinthalmanna direct route (via Vandoor, Pandikkad) is the fastest instead of going through Manjeri, as @Renjith already pointed out. Manjeri Perinthalmanna surface is good since couple of years and traffic also will be sparse except (if at all) for say 5 km nearer to both the towns. For Malappuram & Kottakkal from Nilambur, definitely route via Manjeri IS the better/shorter one

[anachronix]

Planning to drive to Kozhencherry from Chennai via Trichy - Dindugal - Theni - Kumily - Erumeli.

Last time I was there, there was road expansion work going on between Dindugal, all the way upto Cumbum and the diverted roads were full of rubble. Anyone got update on the road expansion work. Is it more bearable to drive now?

Otherwise, I think I have to take the Trichy - Madurai - Rajapalayam - Punalur - Pathanamthitta route which is not so fun to drive :(

[ampere]

Originally Posted by anachronix

Last time I was there, there was road expansion work going on between Dindugal, all the way upto Cumbum and the diverted roads were full of rubble. Anyone got update on the road expansion work. Is it more bearable to drive now?

Dindigul-Theni is almost done. I dont know the progress from Theni to Cumbum.Thats another 40km stretch.

[anachronix]

Thanks Ampere, I think that 40KM stretch of bad roads should be ok!

Originally Posted by ampere

Dindigul-Theni is almost done. I dont know the progress from Theni to Cumbum.Thats another 40km stretch.