[venuvedam]

Originally Posted by HighwayHopper

I am travelling to Nellore from Hyderabad on 14th Feb. Will be starting from Hyderabad around 8 or 9 PM and intend to reach early morning hours.

Since I am travelling with family at night, I will be taking Hyderabad-->Suryapet-->Vijayawada-->Guntur-->Nellore (584 KMS) though it is longer and I know this route is drivers paradise.

While returning on 16th, I am thinking of taking
Nellore-->Ongole-->Piduguralla-->Miryalaguda-->Nalgonda-->Hyderabad (483 kms)
Can someone shed some light on current road condition in this route and is this route safe to travel with family at day/night ?

I suggest that you take the NAM expressway instead of the Vijayawada highway. Traffic is lighter on this road.

Having said that, I strongly recommend that you don't drive at night on either route. It is really dangerous.

[venki.bala]

Originally Posted by venuvedam

I suggest that you take the NAM expressway instead of the Vijayawada highway. Traffic is lighter on this road.

Having said that, I strongly recommend that you don't drive at night on either route. It is really dangerous.

can you please shed more light on NAM Expressway being " Dangerous" at Nights. I have driven more than couple of times between 10 - 1 am in this stretch. Never have felt unsafe. of course i haven't tried this stretch in recent times. hence curious to know of recent developments?

[JoseVijay]

Originally Posted by venuvedam

Having said that, I strongly recommend that you don't drive at night on either route. It is really dangerous.

Originally Posted by venki.bala

can you please shed more light on NAM Expressway being " Dangerous" at Nights. I have driven more than couple of times between 10 - 1 am in this stretch. Never have felt unsafe.

+ 1 to Venki. Have driven on this route on multiple ocassions. Never once did I feel unsafe.

[simplyself]

Originally Posted by venuvedam

I suggest that you take the NAM expressway instead of the Vijayawada highway. Traffic is lighter on this road.

Having said that, I strongly recommend that you don't drive at night on either route. It is really dangerous.

Not exactly unsafe but the NAM road has more than its share of blind spots. Gaps in the median are not illuminated at most places. Shrubs planted in the median aren't maintained well, which causes the headlights of oncoming vehicles to blind you. Beyond that, its okay, and is definitely not dangerous. Just be extra cautious.

[HighwayHopper]

Originally Posted by bblost

When my mom's aunt expired in 2015. I left Hyderabad at 3 PM. Reached Ongole around 9 PM. My trip was till Chennai.

For a large part of the journey, it was quite dark.
For dinner I picked up some puffs from a bakery in Addanki.

From Pidugurala to Ongole the toll road is in very good condition.

I don't see any reason why you need to take the longer route via Vijayawada.
If your car is in good shape and you are used to night driving, there is no major difference between these two routes.
Don't depend on food options. Keep food with you. If you are used to tea at frequent intervals, keep a flask.

Thank you bblost. I will mostly take the NAM express route.

Originally Posted by simplyself

Not exactly unsafe but the NAM road has more than its share of blind spots. Gaps in the median are not illuminated at most places. Shrubs planted in the median aren't maintained well, which causes the headlights of oncoming vehicles to blind you. Beyond that, its okay, and is definitely not dangerous. Just be extra cautious.

Thank you simplyself. I will be extra cautious.

[9tMax]

Nothing to worry Highwayhopper.
In the last few months I have travelled at least 5 times through the NAM Expressway and every time it was through out the night while going from Hyd to Chennai and few times during day time while returning from Chennai. And never felt anything unsafe. In fact my preference is for night drive only on both the NAM as well as Hyd-Vijaywada highway, because that is the only time when you don't have to deal with the crazy 2-wheelers, dogs, cows, jay-walkers and to no lesser extent over-enthusiastic novice drivers driving crazily in their new cars.
BUT, and that's a BIG BUT - you should be habituated to night drives and don't fall asleep behind the wheels. And also you will not find almost any tea stalls open at night, unlike the Bangalore highway, till you touch the NH-5 at Medarmetla.
Hope this helps all of you planning to take a overnight drive towards Chennai.

[gajadonga]

I second what you say. 9tMax.
As it is a toll road throughout from Hyderabad to Chennai u can always get something near the tolls and have a quick nap near to the toll areas.
Traffic is definitely less chaotic in the night.
Most of the time when I traveled I started in the afternoon and reach by midnight.

[HighwayHopper]

Thank you everyone for your advice. I started at 9.45 PM from Hyderabad and reached Sriharikota at 6.15 AM. The route was simply awesome and I enjoyed driving on this stretch. After I diverted at Narketpalli, I was the lone driver with few trucks on this stretch until I reached Medarametla and hit the highway towards Chennai.

I found that the diversion markings on Nalgonda-Addanki can be even better to help night drivers.

I started my return journey at 11 AM the next day and reached Hyderabad at 8 PM with lot of breaks and yes this is the highway to take if anyone is travelling towards Chennai.


Totally happy and satisfied that we were one in many who supported the launch.

[arun_josie]

How much time does it take to reach Chennai from Vijayawada, for a 6AM start from Vijayawada? And what would be the recommended place for breakfast stop?

[bblost]

Originally Posted by arun_josie

How much time does it take to reach Chennai from Vijayawada, for a 6AM start from Vijayawada? And what would be the recommended place for breakfast stop?

I would guess about six hours and the best place will be the restaurant after Ongole that is on top of the toll gate.
I think it's Tungatura or something like that. This thread has details about the place.

[HighwayHopper]

It is N5 Food Plaza above Tangutur toll plaza. Clean restaurant and decent food.

[gajadonga]

Traveled last weekend.
Hyderabad to Addanki.
Roads are good.
Between Nalgonda to Pidugurala most of the village stretches have been four laned.
No bypass for Pidugurala and Addanki.
Miryalguda bypass flyover still under construction.
All the three tolls do not have fast tag reason given by the staff it is a state highway
Medametla to Nellore
It almost completely 6 lane. Ongole town bypass also progressing briskly.
Nellore to Tada
Good roads throughout.
Tada to Chennai.
Three flyovers complete 6 laned.
8 to 10 hrs to Chennai depending on the traffic conditions

[sridhga]

Originally Posted by gajadonga

Traveled last weekend.
Hyderabad to Addanki.
Roads are good.
Between Nalgonda to Pidugurala most of the village stretches have been four laned.
No bypass for Pidugurala and Addanki.
Miryalguda bypass flyover still under construction.
All the three tolls do not have fast tag reason given by the staff it is a state highway
Medametla to Nellore
It almost completely 6 lane. Ongole town bypass also progressing briskly.
Nellore to Tada
Good roads throughout.
Tada to Chennai.
Three flyovers complete 6 laned.
8 to 10 hrs to Chennai depending on the traffic conditions

Do they accept credit cards/ Paytm at these toll plazas?

[gajadonga]

I did not really take notice of credit cards. Maybe they might be accepting

[Maverick79]

Originally Posted by sridhga

Do they accept credit cards/ Paytm at these toll plazas?

Originally Posted by gajadonga

I did not really take notice of credit cards. Maybe they might be accepting

Yes. All are accepting Debit/ Credit cards.

Regards,
Maverick79