[tharian]

Originally Posted by ramanan.skr

Last time when I went by ECR, there was some 4 lane construction going on. Any improvements on that? or is there any alternative better route?
Any thoughts on that, please advice.

When I traveled in Feb between Velankanni and Cuddalore, there were road works happening more or less all the way.

[ramanan.skr]

Originally Posted by tharian

When I traveled in Feb between Velankanni and Cuddalore, there were road works happening more or less all the way.

Thanks for the response
Can we still take that route or would you suggest any other alternate one?

[venki.bala]

Originally Posted by ramanan.skr

Last time when I went by ECR, there was some 4 lane construction going on. Any improvements on that? or is there any alternative better route?
Any thoughts on that, please advice.

Please avoid Cuddalore - Chidambaram - Sirkali - Karaikal stretch. work is on full swing and particularly after dark strict no - no condition. I believe its worth taking longer route through Kumbakonam - Nedungadu - Karaikal - Nagapattinam.

[ramanan.skr]

Originally Posted by venki.bala

I believe its worth taking longer route through Kumbakonam - Nedungadu - Karaikal - Nagapattinam.

How about taking Chn-Trichy-Tanjavur-Needamangalam-Tiruvarur-Nagapatinam where we get 4 Lane all the way till Tanjavur(does it make any sense!)?

[venki.bala]

Originally Posted by ramanan.skr

How about taking Chn-Trichy-Tanjavur-Needamangalam-Tiruvarur-Nagapatinam where we get 4 Lane all the way till Tanjavur(does it make any sense!)?

Thanjavur - Needamangalam - Tiruvarur - Nagapattinam is also under widening. Tiruvarur - Nagai road condition is even worser than cuddalore - chidambaram when i went 6 months back. Much better would be Thanjavur - Mannargudi - T.Poondi - Nagai. Except for few bridge works diversion between thanjavur - mannai and curvy mannai - T Poondi. But it will be too long distance wise. Thanjavur - Mannai - 45 mins Mannai - T.Poondi - 45 mins
T Poondi - Nagai - 45 mins. close to 3 hours of travel time.

[ramanan.skr]

Originally Posted by venki.bala

Tiruvarur - Nagai road condition is even worser than cuddalore - chidambaram

thanks for your help. I think it will be better if I stick with your earlier suggestion (thru' KMK).

[thanixravindran]

Originally Posted by venki.bala

Please avoid Cuddalore - Chidambaram - Sirkali - Karaikal stretch. work is on full swing and particularly after dark strict no - no condition. I believe its worth taking longer route through Kumbakonam - Nedungadu - Karaikal - Nagapattinam.

I am planning to drive to Tarangambadi tomorrow. I believe heavy road works are still ongoing in ECR. So will it be better to go via GST road till Vikravandi and go to Chidambaram and continue further just to bypass the Cuddalore road works. I guess there is no escape from Chidambaram to Tarangambadi road work as it is part of ECR. Any pointers to any other better route?

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by thanixravindran

I am planning to drive to Tarangambadi tomorrow. I believe heavy road works are still ongoing in ECR. So will it be better to go via GST road till Vikravandi and go to Chidambaram and continue further just to bypass the Cuddalore road works. I guess there is no escape from Chidambaram to Tarangambadi road work as it is part of ECR. Any pointers to any other better route?

I wouldn't go via Vikravandi either. Vikravandi-Kumbakonam 4-laning is going on for ages.

Would take Veppur-Vriddachalam-Jayamkondam-GKC-Anaikarai-Tiruppanandal-Mayavaram-Tarangambadi. This would minimize the bad roading you have to do.

[thanixravindran]

Originally Posted by narayans80

I wouldn't go via Vikravandi either. Vikravandi-Kumbakonam 4-laning is going on for ages.

Would take Veppur-Vriddachalam-Jayamkondam-GKC-Anaikarai-Tiruppanandal-Mayavaram-Tarangambadi. This would minimize the bad roading you have to do.

Thanks Narayan. I have to go to Pondicherry and then to Tarangambadi. So does it still make sense to reach Pondy through Tindivanam and then come out to Villupuram and take the above route? Or just bear the pain of ECR itself since I am driving by day time. Any recent experience on ECR beyond Pondy?

[venki.bala]

Originally Posted by thanixravindran

Thanks Narayan. I have to go to Pondicherry and then to Tarangambadi. So does it still make sense to reach Pondy through Tindivanam and then come out to Villupuram and take the above route? Or just bear the pain of ECR itself since I am driving by day time. Any recent experience on ECR beyond Pondy?

Its going to be a tough call for you. since its daytime and if you can handle the road construction activity that is in full swing I would suggest you to proceed in the ECR. if you feel you dont mind coming back to Villupuram, take the anaikarai route. its going to be a longer one but timing wise i guess it would be almost the same and stress free.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by thanixravindran

does it still make sense to reach Pondy through Tindivanam and then come out to Villupuram and take the above route?

Tindivanam-Pondy is great. But Pondy-Villupuram is high traffic road. I would retrace back to Tindivanam and catch GST than enduring the Villupuram road.

[thanixravindran]

Originally Posted by venki.bala

Its going to be a tough call for you. since its daytime and if you can handle the road construction activity that is in full swing I would suggest you to proceed in the ECR. if you feel you dont mind coming back to Villupuram, take the anaikarai route. its going to be a longer one but timing wise i guess it would be almost the same and stress free.

Originally Posted by narayans80

Tindivanam-Pondy is great. But Pondy-Villupuram is high traffic road. I would retrace back to Tindivanam and catch GST than enduring the Villupuram road.

I bit the bullet and took the ECR from Pondy. Road works and diversion is an understatement. I thought it is expansion of existing road but there is literally no road after Cuddalore. I don't know why they are doing concrete road but they are building by scraping out completely old road and increased width. Wherever it is half complete, the deviations are not well marked.

Even with all of this, private buses are driving like maniacs. It took me 3.5 hours from Pondy to Tarangambadi since it is day time. It is a strict no in the night with family.

I am returning tomorrow and will try out Mayavaram - Kattumannar koil - Virudhasalam road mentioned in the Kumbakonam road thread.

[Aerobat]

Did a recent trip from Kumbakonam to Velankanni and Tuticorin. Routes as below :

Kumbakonam-Needamangalam-Mannargudi-Thiruthuraipoondi-Velankanni

Note :
- There is road construction work in progress in the Kumbakonam-Needamangalam route, i.e. bridges under construction and unpaved stretches (Approx 20 kms distance)

ECR Route, Velankanni-Thiruthuraipoondi-Adirampattinam-Mimisal-Thondi-Ramanathpuram-Keelakarai-Tuticorin

Note :
- ECR is a single lane route which is well paved
- There are several fuel stations all along the route having toilets
- Local eateries are found is small towns, but not the known brands
- Ramanathapuram area has some good eateries along the highway
- Very low traffic all along the route
- No toll

ECR return route, Tuticorin-Ramanathapuram-Thondi-Mimisal-Adirampattinam- Mannargudi-Needamangalam-Kumbakonam

Note :
- Followed GMaps and took a route that byepassed Keelakarai and other small villages and reached Ramanathapuram
- The Adirampattinam-Mannargudi stretch is awesome. A straight road, well paved with good signages and in pristine condition
- Several good food options at Mannargudi
- No toll

[niCo_neOz]

Hello Folks,

Reviving the thread again. Kindly suggest the better route to travel from Chennai to Nagapattinam. We would be travelling with our 6 month old , hence would need suggestions on good eateries along the way as well.

Thanks!

[venki.bala]

Originally Posted by niCo_neOz

Hello Folks,

Reviving the thread again. Kindly suggest the better route to travel from Chennai to Nagapattinam. We would be travelling with our 6 month old , hence would need suggestions on good eateries along the way as well.

Thanks!

i did this trip in September. I did Nagapatinam - Karaikal - Sirkazhi - Cuddalore - Pondy - Chennai. I would not recommend the Nagai - Sirkazhi stretch. Total mess and chaotic traffic. you can get my update on

Originally Posted by venki.bala

I took the bait and took the ECR from Nagapattinam all the way to Chennai.

ECR widening work is on full swing between Nagai outskirts till Karaikal border. The ECR remains the old road passing through Karaikal till thirukadaiyur. Passing through Karaikal town is most painful in this stretch. it took nearly 30 mins to cross the town and after crossing the town the old highway remains in good condition till Thirukadaiyur. Then the painful stretch starts till Sirkazhi bypass. The work is in full swing and you get concrete surface completed on one side for 500m to 1 km and then suddenly you will move unmarked diversion to other side. Culverts are work in progress and there are too many. negotiating these is a painful act. All these pain gets over once u reach Sirkazhi bypass from here its a breeze till cuddalore except for small diversion near B.Mutlur where we need to go through the town. cuddalore to Pondy remains the same chaotic as always.

Is it worth taking ECR from Nagai to Sirkazhi? No atleast for another 6 months. Its a strain on Vehicle and the driver. I would recommend the Needamangalam - Nagapattinam road even though the distance is more.

timing wise started from Nagapattinam at 11 am and reached Sirkazhi bypass at 1.15 PM. Hotel clarks inn in Sirkazhi bypass has neat and clean restrooms but restaurant is very slow in service.