[coolclouds]

Finally there is a good news.

Speed limit on kerala roads revised after 15 years.
Now its 90 kmph and 85 kmph for cars on four lane and two lane highways respectively with immediate effect.

Here is the news [TOI Kochi] 15 March 2014

Speed limit on highways and 4-lane roads revised*M K Sunil Kumar TNN*Kochi: The government on Friday revised the upper speed limit of all vehicles on highways and four-lane roads.As per the order,the speed limit on city roads will be 45 km/hr as against 35 km/hr earlier.The revision in speed limits on state roads comes after almost 15 years.The order,which came into force on Friday itself,states that the upper speed limit for cars has gone up from 70 km/hr to 85 km/hr on highways and 90 km/hr on four-lane roads.The speed limit for transport vehicles has been revised to 70 km/hr on highways and 80 km/hr on four-lane roads from 60 km/hr earlier while that of motorcycles has been revised to 70 km/hr on highways and four-lane roads from 50 km/hr.The speed limit of autorickshaws has been revised from 40 km/ hr to 50 km/hr on highways and 60 km/hr on fourlane roads.However,there is no change on the speed limit on other roads.We had given a proposal to the state government to revise the speed limits two years ago.The government issued the orders today, transport commissioner Rishi Raj Singh said.Motor vehicles department officials said motorists caught speeding on CCTV cameras would be fined only if they violated the revised speed limits.The department has installed CCTVs along the Cherthala-Kasaragod stretch on the national highway.Senior deputy transport commissioner P K Stephan said the proposal to increase the speed limits was made in view of the improved road conditions.A final decision is awaited on plan to increase the speed limit of school buses.The speed governors installed on buses and trucks will soon be reset according to the revised speed limits.*

[arjithin]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Finally there is a good news.

Speed limit on kerala roads revised after 15 years.
Now its 90 kmph and 85 kmph for cars on four lane and two lane highways respectively with immediate effect.

Here is the news [TOI Kochi] 15 March 2014

Thanks Coolclouds. Wonder why the malayalam mainstream print media didnt report this ..

[binaiks]

For those who are interested in knowing the detailed speed limits - an extract from the Government Order regarding speed limits

[SAPVEN]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Did Bangalore-Kochi on 6th evening. Bangalore-Hosur-Palacode-Thoppur-Omallur-Sankari-Coimbatore-Palakkad-Mannuthy-Trichur-Kochi.

Overall, good condition and there is much progress between Walayar and Vadakkancherry.

Tarring work started at Karumathampatti flyover

520 kms from Electronics City BETL toll to Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kaloor.

Bhpian arjithin too was driving to Trichur and had a quick meet at Hotel Saravana Bhavan, Sankari.

Hi Coolclouds,

The route detailed by you (Bangalore - Coimbatore) looks interesting, since I have never used the SHs in that stretches, preferring the smooth tolled NHs.
I would like to know specifically, the road condition at :
a) Hosur-Palacode-Thoppur
b) Omalur-Sankari
Is there anyway to avoid Omalur town in the above route ?

Thanks and regards,

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by SAPVEN

Hi Coolclouds,

The route detailed by you (Bangalore - Coimbatore) looks interesting, since I have never used the SHs in that stretches, preferring the smooth tolled NHs.
I would like to know specifically, the road condition at :
a) Hosur-Palacode-Thoppur
b) Omalur-Sankari
Is there anyway to avoid Omalur town in the above route ?

Thanks and regards,

Hosur-Rayakottai-Palacode road is generally good. When you pass through villages, the road will be rough.
While proceeding on NH7, you will see a board on the left side mentioning SALEM AIRPORT. Stick to the right of the road divider till you a see a board mentioning OMALUR TOWN. This road SH86 passes through Tharamangalam and Konganapuram to reach NH47 after the Sankagiri toll. By this road you avoid paying toll at Omalur and sankagiri. You can expect some traffic at Omalur town.

[DieselLover]

Guys,
need an urgent help. I am driving to Coonoor on this Friday afternoon. I will start from Kalamassery at around 1 PM. Need advice on following.

1. Best route to Coonoor.
2. Road condition (I am assuming it's good till Palakkad based on recent posts)
3. Approx driving time. I will be travelling with a 2yr old and it will be a slow drive. Can I reach Coonoor around Dinner time (8-9 PM)?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by DieselLover

Guys,
need an urgent help. I am driving to Coonoor on this Friday afternoon. I will start from Kalamassery at around 1 PM. Need advice on following.

1. Best route to Coonoor.
2. Road condition (I am assuming it's good till Palakkad based on recent posts)
3. Approx driving time. I will be travelling with a 2yr old and it will be a slow drive. Can I reach Coonoor around Dinner time (8-9 PM)?

- Take the NH47 all the way to CBE.
- Check with others if Walayar is OK. Else Vaddakkencherry-Pollachi-Palladam-Karumathampatty
- Bypass CBE on the NH47
- Go via Karumathampatty-Annur-Mettupalayam
- Head to Conoor.

[DieselLover]

Originally Posted by ampere

- Take the NH47 all the way to CBE.
- Check with others if Walayar is OK. Else Vaddakkencherry-Pollachi-Palladam-Karumathampatty
- Bypass CBE on the NH47
- Go via Karumathampatty-Annur-Mettupalayam
- Head to Conoor.

Thanks Ampere. I will stick to NH47 as it's the most direct one it seems.

I was looking at Karumathampatty-Annur-Mettupalayam route on google maps and it's longer by around 30kms. Do you think it will be faster than going inside Coimbatore city on Friday evening?

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by DieselLover

Thanks Ampere. I will stick to NH47 as it's the most direct one it seems.

I was looking at Karumathampatty-Annur-Mettupalayam route on google maps and it's longer by around 30kms. Do you think it will be faster than going inside Coimbatore city on Friday evening?

By passing CBE is the best bet. Considering the traffic on friday evening it would make sense to go via Karumathampatty and Annur

[kala]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Finally there is a good news.

Speed limit on kerala roads revised after 15 years.
Now its 90 kmph and 85 kmph for cars on four lane and two lane highways respectively with immediate effect.

Originally Posted by arjithin

Thanks Coolclouds. Wonder why the malayalam mainstream print media didnt report this ..

Today's Mathrubhumi has reported this - but also says the change is likely to come into effect only from the 1st of April. So people travelling in March, please stick to the old speed limits.

[binand]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Now its 90 kmph and 85 kmph for cars on four lane and two lane highways respectively with immediate effect.

Originally Posted by kala

Today's Mathrubhumi has reported this - but also says the change is likely to come into effect only from the 1st of April.

Technically speaking, the new limits come into force on 28/2, the date of the gazette notification (which Binai has attached to a post here). What the Mathrubhumi article is saying is that implementation will be from 1/4. This part involves re-doing the road signs, re-calibrating the automated violation detection systems, educating the beat cops etc.

Point being, you are not in violation of the law if you did a speed that is between the old and the new limits during March.

Of course, there are practical difficulties if you are caught during the interim

[arjithin]

Originally Posted by kala

Today's Mathrubhumi has reported this - but also says the change is likely to come into effect only from the 1st of April. So people travelling in March, please stick to the old speed limits.

Manorama also reported y'day the same news and specifically quoted Mr RishiRaj Singh (Kerala Transport Commissioner) as the changes are effective immediately and all speed cameras are already re-calibrated.

[gops2009]

Returned on Monday the 17th after a trip to kerala, left Bangalore at 4:00 AM on the 14th ( Friday) took a new route suggested by fellow BHpians, Suresh_Gs and Amphere- as I wanted to avoid the city like traffic across Kerala.
So took the Bangalore- Hosur- Krishnagiri- Salem- Dindigul- Bhatlagundu- Theni- Cumbum- Vandiperiyar- Mundakayam- Pampadi – Kottayam wonderful roads all the way , briiliant drive and would recommend this route to any team BHPian driving to Kottayam, reached Kottayam by 2:30 PM with 2 food breaks, 2 Bio breaks and one refuelling stop.

On day two after visiting some temples, had a function to attend in Thodupuza, so drove from Kottayam to Thodupuza with a breakfast stop- drove via Pala, very good roads again and manageable traffic completed this 54 km stretch in an hour and 25 minutes. Post the function we drove to Guruvayoor via Angamali. Good roads all the way again
Day 3 post darshan at Guruvayoor, drove down to Kozhikode with some pilgrimage stops enroute

Day4 , started from Kozhikode at about 6:00 Am and drove via sultan battery, breakfast at Calicut kitchen – a couple of kms before Mutangad sanctuary, hot appams and bhaji is just too good for breakfast; lunch break at Kamath Lokaruchi and back home at 2:00 PM. Good roads all the way save for the zillion speed humps on Mysore Bangalore stretch.

Maintained a steady max of 95-100 through the trip and thoroughly enjoyed the drive

Taking the high ranges route to Kottayam also ensured that we did not face the sultry summer heat until we reached Pampadi

Originally Posted by arjithin

Manorama also reported y'day the same news and specifically quoted Mr RishiRaj Singh (Kerala Transport Commissioner) as the changes are effective immediately and all speed cameras are already re-calibrated.

The changes are applicable as on the 14th of March and I was spared inspite of passing a patrol team with speed camera at 80KMPH and thought I was plain lucky, until I saw the news item of the speed limit changes effected after 15 long years

[NPV]

Originally Posted by gops2009

Day4 , started from Kozhikode at about 6:00 Am and drove via sultan battery, breakfast at Calicut kitchen – a couple of kms before Mutangad sanctuary, hot appams and bhaji is just too good for breakfast; lunch break at Kamath Lokaruchi and back home at 2:00 PM. Good roads all the way save for the zillion speed humps on Mysore Bangalore stretch.

You could have avoided the zillion humps by taking NH209 from Gundlupet and reaching Bangalore via Charmarjanagar, Kanakapura.
This way you would have also bypassed Mysore city totally.

[gops2009]

Originally Posted by NPV

You could have avoided the zillion humps by taking NH209 from Gundlupet and reaching Bangalore via Charmarjanagar, Kanakapura.
This way you would have also bypassed Mysore city totally.

Yes NPV, thought about it, but as I had never used this route, was not too sure about the road condition and I had my parents travelling with me , with one of them having slight vertigo problem, so played it safe taking the road I always take.

Also, I stay in Basaveswaranagar, so I have been under the impression that this route suits better and therefore did not try the Chamarajnagar stretch. Is this a better route with lesser traffic and good roads and how does this fare distance wise??