[theMAG]

Thanks to Samu in particular for posting up the RFI on my behalf when my internet was down and to everyone else in general.

I had to go to Kollur Mookambika on NH48 itself via Shiradi Ghats since we had to pick up a person from Channarayapatna. Came back via the Shivmoga route. A travelog will ensue once the meagre pics taken in a friend's camera materialize.

Shiradi Ghats has been wonderfully relaid till 85% of its length. I did it down in 5th gear. The last 15 kms is being done up. After Shiradi, from Gundya right into the Dharmasthala route is a breeze. In fact I was so involved in enjoying the drive on this twisty and smooth road that a small right deviation that would have shortcutted to Udupi was missed and we ended going straight all the way to Mangalore before hitting the start of Nonsense Highway 17 .

The return route via Nagara and Shivmoga was simply amazing. Narrow forest road - very smooth and completely uninhabited for hours till we hit Ripponpet. The SH continues to be fantastic till Shivmoga after which for about 30 kms the road is extremely rough and has probably seen its last asphalt during the British Raj. Then the roads become smooth and arrow straight with visibility of 3-4 kms ahead. Lovely road all the way into Bangalore. But its a single carriageway and you'll have to pull out into the opposing lane to overtake. Yet - its infinitely safer than NH17 with its mentally retarded and manic private bus drivers that ply the Mangalore-Kundapur route.

[lohithrao]

Originally Posted by theMAG

its infinitely safer than NH17 with its mentally retarded and manic private bus drivers that ply the Mangalore-Kundapur route.

Its been like this for ages, guess wont improve in this life time

Btw good to know you had a good drive...

[s0uljah]

Shiradi 85% done eh, amazing pace of work!!

[lohithrao]

Originally Posted by s0uljah

Shiradi 85% done eh, amazing pace of work!!

The work is stuck at 85% for sometime now....due to the fund not getting released on time and the lorry traffic etc it got delayed. Else it would have been complete long time back!

[lohithrao]

It seems the madikeri to Mangalore road has been fixed and is very motorable now! few days back my cousin drove down via madikeri - mysore from Mangalore.

From Kushal nagar to Putur the road was in pathetic shape, i think that stretch is fixed.

[Samurai]

Today I drove to Bramavar and back on NH-17. On the way (and back) I encountered something weird. There were long lines on the left side of the road. Few smart chaps tried driving on the wrong side, soon ran into cops and were getting mouthful from them. As the line slowly proceeded, I continuously had to stop and start, staying mostly in 1st gear. Same thing happened on the way back too. I found it uncomfortable, and it suddenly stuck me. This was stop and go traffic, something very common on cities, but a very rare around here. I have almost forgotten stop and go traffic conditions.

Turned out one side was completely blocked because they were applying fresh coat of tar on the recently damaged NH17. In fact, I noticed they were applying double coat of tar. I think it is a election gimmick, otherwise I can't explain why they are repariing roads in May.

[reachmallya]

There was a mention about Shiradi Ghat in TOI today.
The photo tempts to have a drive to Mangalore.
The news is that the ghat section will open on June 1.

[prabhusati]

Travelled on NH48 last week. It was a pleasure to drive down to Mangalore. Had to bring my family back after spending their holidays there.

Started from my home at 01:00 on 15th May 08 (i was travelling alone). There was a long line of trucks on the ring road towards tumkur road, but they were sensible enough to be one behind the other which allowed the cars to pass through by their side. Tumkur road was relatively free of the heavy traffic you see during day time. Hit the NH48 junction after Nelamangala at around 01:45. It was sad to see trees being cut down to widen the road upto Hassan. Traffic was light and because of the night time...found it easy to identify oncoming traffic. But after 03:00, started to see quite a few buses from Managalore. Road condition till Hassan is good. Reached Hassan at 04:00. The bypass road at Hassan is not good and looks there will be no effort to spruce it up before the monsoons. There is a diversion just at the end of the bypass for some repair work (could not understand what they were repairing). The road from Hassan to Sakaleshpur is also being repaired and is good for driving. Reached Donigal and noticed that the barrier wall which was shown in the newspapers to ban heavy vehicles entering the ghat section has been removed. Instead there were 2 cops with metal barricades and they would move them aside to allow cars to pass. Also noticed that they were allowing trucks and KSRTC buses also to enter the ghat section. On two curves, concreting has been completed only on one side and i personally feel that the road will not be complete by June 1 (announced in newspapers that the road will be open for all traffic by June 1). Intermittent areas between the concreted road and the tar road is also pending for asphalting. The asphalted road on the ghat section and the concrete curves have been done well, but the proof of quality will be tested during the monsoons. The the condition of the road now was like rain in a desert for me after travelling on this road during Aug 07 & Oct 07. The road from Gundya to Uppinangady is also being repaired in patches, and may not withstand the oncoming monsoons if not pepaired. Uppinangady to BC Road has been repaired and driving was a breeze. BC Road to Mangalore has been only patched up because of the 4 laning project. The pace of work is abysmally slow and may drag on for a few years. Reached home in Mangalore at 07:15. Total time taken from my home in Bangalore to reach my parents home in Mangalore was 6hours 15 min (no stops in between). My OMNI gave a 18.5kms fuel efficiency on this drive.

The return Journey:

My brothers wife & kids accompanied me & my family on the drive from Mangalore to Bangalore. The boot was filled with luggage with hardly any space available to view from the rear view mirror. Started at 08:30 on 18th May 08, reached Uppinangady at 09:30. Took at break at my in-laws house for an hour. Started at 10:30 and reached Sakaleshpur by 12:00 noon. Final coat of asphalting was being done on the highway just after Gundya. Work on the drain by the road side was also going on at a good pace. Again observed KSRTC buses coming down on the ghat, but did not observe goods trucks in the daytime. Stopped for Lunch at Kamat's (Udayapura) at 13:10 and started again at 14:05. Reached Nelamangala cross at 16:10, but then traffic was heavy and also it stared to rain heavily. Reached my brothers house at 17:00, took a break for an hour and reached my home at 18:30. I have'nt filled the tank to determine fuel efficiency on the return journey.

Overall....it was good driving experience after years of suffering due to bad road condition. Hope we will not have to experience it again in future.

[sushrutha]

Did a recent trip to Mangalore on May 19th.
The trip was done from Mudigere(chikmagalur ) to Mangalore via Charmadi- ujire-B.C. Road. The road is fantastic... not much potholes except a few in the hairpin bends...
Rest all potholes have been tarred, but the road is slight bumpy

[rajshenoy]

Guys whats the latest update on the NH via shiradi?

looks like this thread is one of the longest living thread..thanks to NH48

heard in news that it will be open for public by june first week(really ?)

with monsoon about to start(already raining) even a slightest delay would mean bad quality of work i guess

any one with latest experience on these roads ?

[Samurai]

I travelled on Shiradi two days back on the CJ340. Road is very near completion. We did suffer traffic congestion, that happened because of heavy rains and fallen trees, and not roads. You can surely take Shiradi ghats safely right now.

[dadu]

Mangalore: Union minister of state for road, transport and highways K H Muniyappa on Monday said despite some minor pending work, the 34-km Shiradi Ghat stretch on Bangalore-Mangalore NH-48 has been opened to traffic.



The 34-km-long Shiradi Ghat stretch

The minister was in the city after inspecting work in the section.

Muniyappa said work on two curves was still on and would be completed within a fortnight, asserting that it would not pose any problems to movement of traffic. He said the high quality work on Shiradi Ghat should ensure that there would be no problems for the next five years.

On the movement of overloaded mine trucks, he said it was a state subject. “The previous governments, whether Congress or the coalition, have not been able to implement rules to contain the movement of overloaded trucks, which resulted in the ghat section going bad,’’ he noted. Regarding a query about bridges, he said they were quite strong and did not need any reconstruction or repair.

On the Port Connectivity Project (PRC) taken up from Suratkal to BC Road, Muniyappa said that within 10 days, the contractors, Ircon, would make major portions available for traffic between Suratkal and Nanthoor. He admitted there was a delay, and terminating the contractor would mean a further delay of two or three years, he added.

The Union minister said that road improvement work from BC Road to Gundya, on the DK border, would start soon as Rs 25 crore for the work has been released.

Source

[dkamath]

The ghat stretch is definetely drivable, but for those of you planning a travel on this path very soon, please do watch out for certain sections (especially sharp turns) where half the lane is not available due to ongoing work. In short, please drive with some caution.
If not for this bit, the road is thoroughly enjoyable. Your cars will like it

[sanjaymugur]

brilliant, i will be there for running-in my YAMAHA gladiator type RS bike..( yet to be delivered even after 2 1/2 weeks after booking & payment of complete money)

this ghat section is a must for bikers...

[lohithrao]

Yes its open...hope it stays in good shape for a long time....