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Guys, need some urgent advice. My folks are planning to drive down to Coimbatore from Kochi tomorrow morning. They are planning to take the usual kochi-chalakudy-mannuthy-vadakkencherry-palakkad-walayar-coimbatore route.

Is it safe to take a bmw (we all know how 'capable' run flat tyres are in Indian pot holed roads) through this route or should I advice them to take the trusty Toyota instead?
Thanks in advance.

The ride comfort aspect will take a beating due to the patchy conditions between Palakkad-Madukkari. No danger otherwise

Try the extra routing :


Kochi-Trichur-Wadakkancherry-Pazhayannur-Alathur-Kollengode-Pollachi-CBE

Good roads all the way

Update from today on Palakkad-CBE stretch:
Chandranagar junction is all dug up - it's a messy roundabout there now. The next 100 metres is relatively smooth. Beyond that, until Koottupatha, it's a bit patchy. Koottupatha onwards until Kanjikode, it's construction galore on either side of the road. The surface is decent, but expect lumps of soil causing undulations. Kanjikode (ITI Ltd) till Walayar does not have as much activity, but still a bit rough.

Cross Walayar border, you can see ghosts of what used to be construction sites of flyovers but the deviations are still in place, with their share of potholes. Back-breaking, rollercoaster ride, bumpy, etc would be the adjectives to be used for the stretch between Madukkarai and Walayar.

Even more of a reason to use Alathur-Kollengode-Pollachi option. Dont know when this chaos will actually end.

Toyota ofcourse unless you dont like the BMW

Usually, the TN side gets done first, followed by the KL side. But here, I don't see the Walayar-Madukkarai stretch getting widened any time soon, and I am hopeful that the Alathur-Chandranagar-Walayar stretch getting a new lease of life.

Perhaps, it's only the way MC road was redone to what it is now, between Angamaly and Moovattupuzha, that went faster than this.

As for the route option, for those intending to go towards North, the Pollachi-Gopalapuram-Palakkad-NH213 is the best way, and for those going towards Thrissur/Kochi, Pollachi-Kollengode-Alathur-Chelakkara route.

***

Had driven from Bangalore to Palakkad on sunday last. I was intrigued to see a small traffic jam before Hosur town at 3 o'clock in the morning! Didn't find anything unusual at the deviations nor any unusually large/deep potholes either.

Oops, I really don't know:
"how 'capable' run flat tyres are in Indian pot holed roads".
Do elaborate. Thanks
please:

Assuming you missed the quotes on 'capable'. I was being sarcastic there.

In case you genuinely aren't aware about how incapable these run flat tyres are then all I've got to say is, based on my experience, run flat tyres can handle the usual undulations in roads but drive them a bit carelessly in pot holed roads and you've got yourself a puncture.

Experienced a similar situation about 3 weeks ago at 4am but that was due to the trucks trying to find a parking spot near the checkpost. Of the available 2 lanes (1.5 actually!), since there was a line of trucks already parked on leftmost lane, the 'parking spotters' blocked the other lane causing a jam.

This is normal state for last 2-3 months. The condition became like this once the bridge work started near the TN check post. The service line is only open for the traffic which is 80 % blocked by the parked trucks. The condition towards Bangalore is a little better. I used to bypass the TN checkpost by taking either Sarjapur-Bagalur-Hosur route (http://goo.gl/maps/btPey) or Attibele-TVS Factory-Hosur(http://goo.gl/maps/auKp3). The condition of Sarjapur/Bagalur route is really good other than a 500m stretch in Sarjapur town. The TVS factory road is also very good.

Saw this good news in Manorama: Re tarring between Vadakkenchery and Mannuthy is 70 % completed. Only 7 kms remaining. Here is the news: http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bi...79897613&BV_ID

Planning to travel tomorrow morning from Bangalore to Perumbavoor on following route

Bangalore >> Perundurai >> Palladam >> Pollachi >> Kollangode >> Alathur (Pazayannur road) >> Chelakkara >>Wadakkanchery >> trissur >>Chalakkudi

This route is finalized based on the input from previous post. This is the first time i am travelling through this route.

Any further suggestions based on recent travel experience is welcome.

I will be driving to Kerala (Vaikom) on Saturday. I prefer to take NH 7 - NH 47 route as it is faster even though the surface is rough. How is the condition of the Palakkad - Mannuthy NH 47? The manorama report says relaying of 7 KMS is remaining. I do not mind occasional craters but if there are road blocks due to craters or road work, I want to avoid this. Do you have any update?

A friend who took the road last week did not find any road blocks and the road is manageable

The roads are good all the way in this route. So nothing to worry about that.
As you are traveling for first time make sure you don't miss the turns on Perundurai, Palladam, Pollachi and Kollengode.
In Perundurai, on the bypass take a left turn from the junction where you can see Hotel Jumboos (something like that) on right of the Jn. The Gmap is here: http://goo.gl/maps/jmBtY
In Kangeyam, you need to take a right in the town. It is well marked and look out for the sign boards to Coimbatore/Palladam.
In Palladam, you will hit a signal from where you should take a left. Signboards are there also.
In Pollachi, as you approach Pollachi, you will be able to see a 4-line road going towards right(New scheme road). Take that road and you will hit another junction with signal. Take a left from there. On the next junction, take the straight narrow road. On traveling 100 meters on that narrow road, a temple will come on the right side. Take a right just after the temple and proceed straight.(Gmap is here:http://goo.gl/maps/oMyeg)
Kollengode, after the town there are some curves with speed breakers. Look for a road going towards right after some sharp curves.
There are good news about Kuthiran repairing, so you can think of the direct route thorough Kollengode-Nemmara-Vadakkenchey-Mannuthy also.
Heard that the Kuthiran section is not bad now. The Vadakkenchey-Mannuthy can be doable. But not sure about the Palakkad-Alatur-Vadakkencehry route.