[sachinpk]

Originally Posted by sunil8089

But the work from Vadakkancherry to Walayar is being done by a different company, which is in progress right now.

I saw some road building activity at Kuthiran (near the place known as Irumbupalam). And was under the impression that all is fine from Chandranagar to Mannuthi. So are you saying that even NOW, only the Walayar->Vadakkanchery (i.e in Pgt Dt.) that every thing is finalised? And the short stretch in Thrissur Dt (Kuthiran to Mannuthi) is still undecided??

[coolclouds]

Update as on a recent trip:

Mannuthy-Vadakkancherry: Good surface
Vadakkancherry-Palakkad: Four lane completed except for last 3-4 kms
Chandra Nagar overbridge open and its towards Palakkad
Palakkad-Walayar: Excellent, expect toll collection soon
Walayar-L&T: Bumpy
L&T-Salem-Dharmapuri-Bangalore: Good as always

All bumps from Avinashi side removed till Karumathampatti and its a smooth sailing. Karumathampatti-L&T tarring work is going on and hope it gets over in a weeks time.

First image is on Vadakkancherry-Palakkad stretch and remaining at Walayar.
Looks like parking at RTO is improved a lot!

[sunil8089]

Originally Posted by sachinpk

So are you saying that even NOW, only the Walayar->Vadakkanchery (i.e in Pgt Dt.) that every thing is finalised? And the short stretch in Thrissur Dt (Kuthiran to Mannuthi) is still undecided??

Yes, The Palakkad-Thrissur stretch of the National Highway (NH47) was being executed in two stretches -
1 the four laning of the 54-km Walayar-Vadakkencherry (45 meter)
2 six laning of the 29-km Vadakkencherry-Mannuthy (60 meter)

Since both these were awarded to two different companies, the work could have been completed simultaneously. Unfortunately the work for the second stretch was halted long time back. Thereby even though the Walayar-Vadakkencherry stretch is completed, we may have to wait some more time for a continuous 4/6 lane track from Cochin to Palakkad. But the good side of this delay is that, it seems the government got some plans to straighten the road in this stretch by tunneling the hills, which substantially reduces the distance, fuel requirements as well as the time.

[sachinpk]

Originally Posted by sunil8089

But the good side of this delay is that, it seems the government got some plans to straighten the road in this stretch by tunneling the hills, which substantially reduces the distance, fuel requirements as well as the time.

Yes. Because I remember reading a very optimistic (for a change!) report in Mathrubhumi which says that all hurdles for the four-laning between Walayar and Mannuthi are now over. The contractors have got their bank loans sanctioned. It was reported that initial part of the tunnel (at Kuthiran) would get bored before the monsoon sets in Kerala. It seems if the tunnel is bored in for some distance (5-10 mts??), then it does not matter if it is raining outside, tunnelling can go on.

[venkyhere]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Update as on a recent trip:

All bumps from Avinashi side removed till Karumathampatti and its a smooth sailing. Karumathampatti-L&T tarring work is going on and hope it gets over in a weeks time.

when you say "all bumps" , are you referring to the 'so-bad-it-seems-like-a-gorilla-did-the-civil-work' humps on the small flyovers; the existence of which are warned through 30kmph boards and/or shivalingam shaped signage ?

[coolclouds]

Originally Posted by venkyhere

when you say "all bumps" , are you referring to the 'so-bad-it-seems-like-a-gorilla-did-the-civil-work' humps on the small flyovers; the existence of which are warned through 30kmph boards and/or shivalingam shaped signage ?

Yes, I mean those humps over flyover. I could easily maintain a steady 100kmph all through without a gear change

Regarding the tunnel at Kuthiran, I'm totally against. Its a small ghat section and they could have easily widened it. Lets wait and see how bad its going to hit us in terms of toll.

[vasoo]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Update as on a recent trip:

Mannuthy-Vadakkancherry: Good surface
Vadakkancherry-Palakkad: Four lane completed except for last 3-4 kms
Chandra Nagar overbridge open and its towards Palakkad
Palakkad-Walayar: Excellent, expect toll collection soon
Walayar-L&T: Bumpy
L&T-Salem-Dharmapuri-Bangalore: Good as always

All bumps from Avinashi side removed till Karumathampatti and its a smooth sailing. Karumathampatti-L&T tarring work is going on and hope it gets over in a weeks time.

First image is on Vadakkancherry-Palakkad stretch and remaining at Walayar.
Looks like parking at RTO is improved a lot!

That is great news. Planning to drive to Thrissur, Ekm and Kottayam over next weekend. Based on the reports here, it looks like I can go by the standard NH47 route between Sankari and Thrissur. I might still opt for Attibele > Palacode > Omallur > Sankari route to avoid the traffic and tolls between Bangalore and Salem.

[silversteed]

Originally Posted by sunil8089

The Palakkad-Thrissur stretch of the National Highway (NH47) was being executed in two stretches ...

IIRC, the tunnel plan was conceived long before the NHAI tendering the 4-laning of Walayar-Mannuthy stretch. I vaguely remember reading about the tunnel-boring hitting a road block recently

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Regarding the tunnel at Kuthiran, I'm totally against. Its a small ghat section and they could have easily widened it. Lets wait and see how bad its going to hit us in terms of toll.

+1, Jain

[longhorn]

Originally Posted by sunil8089

Yes, The Palakkad-Thrissur stretch of the National Highway (NH47) was being executed in two stretches -
1 the four laning of the 54-km Walayar-Vadakkencherry (45 meter)
2 six laning of the 29-km Vadakkencherry-Mannuthy (60 meter)

This doesn't make any sense. If anything, it should have been the other way round. 6 lane from Walayar to Vadakkenchery and 4 lane thereafter.

[silversteed]

Originally Posted by longhorn

This doesn't make any sense. If anything, it should have been the other way round. 6 lane from Walayar to Vadakkenchery and 4 lane thereafter.

Vadakkenchery to Mannuthy has the Kuthiran gradient and a few other smaller ones, in addition to some turns. It's on the gradients that the overloaded trucks try to overtake one another at single digit speeds and hold up traffic very badly. 6 lanes is logical in this stretch. If/when the tunnel comes into existence (wishful thinking), this is a good move to preempt any traffic jams when some vehicle gets stranded in the tunnel.

Walayar-Vadakkenchery is like the Mannuthy-Angamaly stretch - more or less the same density of traffic and similar terrain - makes it difficult to acquire more land to have the highway any wider.

[naveen.raju]

Originally Posted by silversteed

Vadakkenchery to Mannuthy has the Kuthiran gradient and a few other smaller ones, in addition to some turns. It's on the gradients that the overloaded trucks try to overtake one another at single digit speeds and hold up traffic very badly. 6 lanes is logical in this stretch. If/when the tunnel comes into existence (wishful thinking), this is a good move to preempt any traffic jams when some vehicle gets stranded in the tunnel.

While going towards palghat from thrissur, you will notice a huge area just before kuthrian being excavated. Chances for a tunnel work?

[sachinpk]

Originally Posted by naveen.raju

While going towards palghat from thrissur, you will notice a huge area just before kuthrian being excavated. Chances for a tunnel work?

Kuthiran @ Wikimapia. At this area (in the map), even I could see some major earth moving activity going on. My understanding is that it is for the road widening (and perhaps tunnelling). When the four laning happens, at Kuthiran I feel the road may not take the existing alignment at all. May be they would try to get a more straighter route. The existing route can be a backup route, if there are any major accidents etc. in this area.

Originally Posted by vasoo

That is great news. Planning to drive to Thrissur, Ekm and Kottayam over next weekend. Based on the reports here, it looks like I can go by the standard NH47 route between Sankari and Thrissur.

During the last two trips towards Thrissur, I have used the NH47. A bit irritating at times with slow moving trucks and private buses going a bit recklessly. But the time saved is worth the effort. The Palakkad->Ottapalam->Shornur stretch seems to be a bit of an arduous task for the driver.

Originally Posted by venkyhere

the existence of which are warned through 30kmph boards and/or shivalingam shaped signage ?

Yes. I see that there is some fast paced re-tarring work going on, and the roads are getting smoothed. Most likely the putting of the line markings also would be getting completed soon. And then the toll collection would also start. But there are still some minor stretches where the 30kmph caution boards warning for humps out there. Last time when we took this route, wifey was at the wheels. I was like the assistant engine driver on the train looking out for signals and caution boards. "30kmph board..." I shout, and wifey acknowledges and reduce the speed. She took some time to figure out the connection between 30kmph board and the uneven road surface/humps.

Gentlemen, before I forget. What is the future plans for the L&T byepass?? When they opened this up, this was the best part of the whole highway. Now it is the worst and a possible bottle neck as well. L&T seems to be least bit bothered about any road widening, building of fly overs etc.

[coolclouds]

Originally Posted by naveen.raju

While going towards palghat from thrissur, you will notice a huge area just before kuthrian being excavated. Chances for a tunnel work?

Yes, this is one end and other end you can see near the iron bridge.

[sun_king]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Yes, I mean those humps over flyover. I could easily maintain a steady 100kmph all through without a gear change

Regarding the tunnel at Kuthiran, I'm totally against. Its a small ghat section and they could have easily widened it. Lets wait and see how bad its going to hit us in terms of toll.

Looking forward for my drive to Thrissur from Bangalore next weekend!

About the tunnel, wasn't it because the family owning the temple in Kuthiran refusing to budge and thus making the widening impossible?

[pramodpk]

Since fuel is now cheaper in Tamil Nadu than Kerala, it makes sense to fill up in TN. Which are the reliable petrol pumps in TN near Kerala border ( Bangalore - Wayalar & Walayar - Bangalore sides)

thanks.