[arun_josie]

Last week, I took the Hyderabad - Vijayawada route to Chennai as we have not done this route before.

Hitech City - ORR - Vijayawada was fast and it took us around 3H 30M, but it was a pain crossing Vijayawada as the bypass road is closed due to some construction work and traffic was diverted via the City. It took us an hour to get out of the city.

Later we stopped at N5 Food Plaza for Dinner. A very nice place with good restrooms and food was good too.





After dinner, I stopped near one of the tolls for a quick nap and reached Guindy in Chennai by 1:15 AM.

We started from Hyderabad at 1:45 PM, so overall it took us 11H:30M including breaks.

[gajadonga]

I have traveled quite a couple of times using different combination of routes like via Vijayawada, Nagarjunasagar, Guntur, Narsaraopet, Cuddapah, Renigunta
Fastest and best as of now is via Miryalguda and Addanki.
The time taken to reach and cross Vijayawada is the almost the same when you go by Miryalguda to reach Ongole. In fact you save close to 1.30hrs if you use the Miryalguda route.
Last time I traveled via Miryalguda with a single stop at the NH5 Food plaza near Ongole was 8.30mins both ways including stops

[bblost]

I did a toll free trip to Chennai from Hyderabad.

Took off from my apartment near APPA junction at around 8:30 AM.
Encountered difficulty getting into the service road close to the Airport-Bangalore exits. Finally found it and continued. Must have lost close to 15 minutes in that nonsense.

Continued without incident till Pidugurila. My bike had not been tanked up before the journey. So luckily it hit reserve close to the HP bunk near the flyover.
I have always preferred this bunk and so topped up the tank for almost 1200 rupees. Mine is a larger than standard tank.

After Addanki, heavy crosswinds started taking their toll on my speed. I stopped at the NH5 toll restaurant and had some dall with roti's.
They have very good service and maintain clean toilets.

The last 40 kilometers home where pure hell in traffic and took me almost 2 hours.
Reached home at 8:30 PM.




While riding I consumed 4 liters of water. No toilet breaks except at the NH5. Gives you an idea of just how dry the ride was.

[dre@ms]

Earlier last month did this trip via the NAM expressway. It was a breeze with very good roads. Started at 6AM and reached home in Chennai at 7.30PM. Was driving slow since was transporting my fishes and my City was fully loaded since it was a relocation from Hyderabad to Chennai.

[SubramoniamAB]

Guys,

I am planning to drive from Chennai to Hyderabad during the Independence day weekend. I am intended to take the NAM route. Kindly advise me better places for breakfast, lunch and T-breaks. Would appreciate if someone can point the current road condition also.

[Makin Rulesz]

Originally Posted by SubramoniamAB

Guys,

I am planning to drive from Chennai to Hyderabad during the Independence day weekend. I am intended to take the NAM route. Kindly advise me better places for breakfast, lunch and T-breaks. Would appreciate if someone can point the current road condition also.

Road conditions were mostly good when i drove on this route last month. At few places construction work was ongoing and there were diversions.

There are not much options for food in this route. We started from Chennai at 3 AM so stopped for breakfast at N5 food plaza which is vastly discussed in this thread. Did not stop anywhere after that and we were in Hyderabad by 1PM.

[SubramoniamAB]

Originally Posted by Makin Rulesz

Road conditions were mostly good when i drove on this route last month. At few places construction work was ongoing and there were diversions.

There are not much options for food in this route. We started from Chennai at 3 AM so stopped for breakfast at N5 food plaza which is vastly discussed in this thread. Did not stop anywhere after that and we were in Hyderabad by 1PM.

Thank you Makin Rulesz. I will surely consider the N5 food plaza. I am planning to start from Chennai around 6 AM. Hence I would have to stop for breakfast and lunch. Other than N5, what are my choices even if it is limited ?

[bblost]

Originally Posted by SubramoniamAB

Thank you Makin Rulesz. I will surely consider the N5 food plaza. I am planning to start from Chennai around 6 AM. Hence I would have to stop for breakfast and lunch. Other than N5, what are my choices even if it is limited ?

Don't waste your time looking for an alternate.
Not only is the location for this perfect, it it's also quite clean and well maintained.

[SubramoniamAB]

Originally Posted by bblost

Don't waste your time looking for an alternate.
Not only is the location for this perfect, it it's also quite clean and well maintained.

Thanks bblost. Perhaps you can also answer me my one more query ? Is Fastag accepted in all the toll booths in the NAM route?

[bblost]

Originally Posted by SubramoniamAB

Thanks bblost. Perhaps you can also answer me my one more query ? Is Fastag accepted in all the toll booths in the NAM route?

I am very sorry but I don't know/remember this.

I don't use fasttag as I am not very convinced with its use. Maybe sometime in future.

My next trip to Chennai is scheduled in the first week of August. Will keep an eye out for these fasttag lanes.

[Makin Rulesz]

Originally Posted by SubramoniamAB

Thanks bblost. Perhaps you can also answer me my one more query ? Is Fastag accepted in all the toll booths in the NAM route?

There are total 10 tolls in this route if you take the NAM expressway. Fastag is accepted in 7 out of them, exceptions are the 3 tolls on NAM expressway.

[hyd_traveller]

Originally Posted by bblost

Attachment 1636460Attachment 1636465

Sorry to digress from the topic, but, bblost, please replace your licence plates ASAP. Get ones with 09 instead of 9. Not sure if you have been challaned, but, you are a sitting duck for traffic police.

[bblost]

Drove down to Chennai today along with my family.
As usual the only problem was the traffic nightmare that greets everyone at the entry point. The last 30 KMS taking up as much as 90 minutes.

My only update for this trip is that the NH5 food stop on top of the toll gate does not serve any thing except sandwiches, coffee and ice cream at 1130 AM.

Service starts around 12:15 PM.

The toilets were clean and dry.

[petrolhead_chn]

Originally Posted by bblost

Drove down to Chennai today along with my family.
As usual the only problem was the traffic nightmare that greets everyone at the entry point. The last 30 KMS taking up as much as 90 minutes.

My only update for this trip is that the NH5 food stop on top of the toll gate does not serve any thing except sandwiches, coffee and ice cream at 1130 AM.

Service starts around 12:15 PM.

The toilets were clean and dry.

@bblost - Either work demands or sheer personal drive, you sure have the enthusiasm for long drives even if it is the same route!

By the way, I am travelling to Hyderabad on a Saturday (5/12). I intend to start as early as 3AM but I am already receiving yelling from family opposing the idea.

Now here is my route plan and toll booths enroute. Do you see any hurdles in here?
Please advice!

P.S. I sure do not know to insert the snap. I managed to add as an attachment.

[bblost]

Are you used to waking up at 2 AM and working non stop in a relaxed but alert kind of work for the next 10 hours?

If not. Then don't ever leave at such an ungodly hour.
As some one who does it occasionally, I can assure you that it's not easy.
I have started avoiding this over the past few years because it's not worth it.

It's much better to sleep well and wake up early.

The road between Hyderabad and Chennai is fantastic. You don't have to face on coming traffic for more than 99% of the way.

My parents live in Chennai. I make regular visits to meet my Grandma. Each trip kind of adds a lot of happiness to her. Makes it worth it.