Query: Pune -Surat, Which is the best route?

IMP · 25th November 2007, 18:49

Hi,
I am planning to travel to Surat from Pune next week, which road is the best? I am getting mixed reports, such as
1) Pune - Nashik - Surat
2) Pune - Mumbai - Surat

interestingly, Yahoo maps has shown the route as here
whereas if i select lonavala(since it is just 40 min. away, thx to the Expressway) to surat it shows like here

Is it possible to do a return trip in one day with 5-6 hrs stay in surat?

TIA

hvkumar · 25th November 2007, 19:45

The best route is via Bombay. The Nashik route involves going through some bad ghat roads.

The road via Bombay to Surat is great all the way. Distance from Bombay is 280 kms. I am a very fast driver, have done this in 4 hours, but I would expect a moderately fast driver to take around 5-6 hours. Add 2 hours fpor Pune-Bombay and 1 hour to bypass Bombay, that makes 7-8 hours for teh Pune-Surat trip. Unless you are prepared to drive through the night 1 way, it is not possible to drive to and fro the same day.

To bypass BOmbay, take teh following route:
Kalamboli (NH4,expressway end)-Belapur-Nerul-Turbhe-Kopar Khairne-Airoli-Airoli Thane Creek Bridge-Eastern Expressway at Bhandup/Mulund-Mulund-Thane-Thane/Kapurwadi-Ghodbunder Road-Ghodbunder (NH8).

Ideally, leave early from Pune (say, 4-5 am) so that you can cross Bombay by 7 am before traffic intensifies. NH8 from Ghodbunder is in good condition via Manor, Charoti, Talasary, Vapi, Valsad, Navsari. Expect traffic jams approching Surat because of flyover construction work in the Surat bypass.

IMP · 25th November 2007, 20:13

Thanks for the comprehensive details, especially the mumbai bypass route.
I will opt the mumbai route now.

One more thing, i do 240 kms in 3.5 hrs from pune to kolhapur quiet regularly (100kph constant), so do you think this road should be any different? (I am assuming the NH-8 to be 4 lane all through)

hvkumar · 25th November 2007, 20:53

It is 4 lane all the way, and good road at that, but the Pune-Kolhapur is faster (I myself do the 400 kms from Bombay to Kolhapur in 4.5 hours). Traffic is very high on NH8, but you can keep cruising speeds of 100 kmph.

nitindangoria · 27th November 2007, 12:08

Mods : Please redirect this page to the correct thread if I am deviating from the rules. Since Mr. HV Kumar is involved in answering this thread I am posting this.

Myself and my family would like to extend my sincere appreciation to Mr. H V Kumar for his excellent report on the Hyd-Goa route via Bijapur, which I recently used. Thanks to his reporting I could return to Hyd avoiding the longer and terrible road via Kolhapur.
IMO he's doing yeoman service by suggesting the best routes, including all details of petrol bunks, roadside restaurants etc. We are proud to have him in our midst.

AkhileshDalia · 3rd April 2009, 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvkumar

The best route is via Bombay. The Nashik route involves going through some bad ghat roads.
----------------------
Expect traffic jams approching Surat because of flyover construction work in the Surat bypass.

Dear HV, I'm planning for Surat-Lonavala-Surat. What route is better? My Zen runs on CNG too.

dark_horizon · 3rd April 2009, 21:37

You should take the same route as suggested by HV for Surat-Pune. NH8 for Surat to Mumbai , bypass via Ghodbunder-Eastern Express Highway-Mulund-Airoli-Turbhe-Nerul-Expressway, take the lonavala cut from the expressway. Ideally, it should take 6-7 hours for the entire trip. 4-5 hrs for Surat-Mumbai, 1 hour in Mumbai, & 1 hour on the expressway.

hvkumar · 3rd April 2009, 22:12

Same Vapi-manor-Thane-New Bombay route is best.

AkhileshDalia · 4th April 2009, 06:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Same Vapi-manor-Thane-New Bombay route is best.

Thanks! After Vapi where is next CNG station? Any idea?

hvkumar · 4th April 2009, 21:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by AkhileshDalia

Thanks! After Vapi where is next CNG station? Any idea?

I have seen a CNG station at Ankleshwar, on NH8 itself - to the left side, you can't miss it, it is a HPCL Club HP pump.

AkhileshDalia · 6th April 2009, 19:50

Ankleshwar does not come between Surat-Lonawala. Do you have any idea about Thane?

hvkumar · 6th April 2009, 20:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by AkhileshDalia

Ankleshwar does not come between Surat-Lonawala. Do you have any idea about Thane?

Sorry, overlooked that!

Yes, there are CNG pumps in Thane.
The one which is on your way is at Majiwade (where Ghodbunder-Thane road ends in the flyover at the road to Nashik), but you will have to do a U-turn to get to the pump which is on the other side.

For further guidance,
As you coem to Thane from Ghodbunder (NH8 turn off point), you will cross (after 16 kms), the VijaySales showroom (left), Cine Wonder multiples (to teh right) and Ford showroom (to the left). You will cross a Club HP pump (to your left), then reach a round junction ( Big Bazaar to the left). Immediately after the round, you will see the BPCL petrol pump on your right, but to get to the other side of the road, you can take a U-turn 50 metres after crossing the petrol pump.

I am not sure whether the Shell petrol pump on Thane-Turbhe-Belapur road (near Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge City) has CNG, but I think that and another BPCl pump nearby in that road also have CNG pumps - they are easier to access.

AkhileshDalia · 7th April 2009, 20:12

Great geographi mind!!

HV I have all papers ready with me. What RTO of MH demands?

hvkumar · 7th April 2009, 20:51

Carry all papers in original.

- R C Book
- Driving License
- Insurance
- PUC

Normally, private cars are not stopped unless there is a security check post (naka bandi).

Wear seat belts at all times.
No talking on mobile, you will be caught even if you are on hands-free.
In cities like Bombay, drunken driving attracts imprisonment/ heavy fines.

Don't stop at any check post, no need for private cars.
Hopefully, your number plates are both in English.
Very dark sun film is not permitted (but I don't know what thickness/ transparency is permissible).
Ensure lane discipline at signals in cities.

AkhileshDalia · 8th April 2009, 07:12

HV, Big Thank You!!!!

25th November 2007, 18:49	#1
IMP BHPian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 123 Thanked: 30 Times	Query: Pune -Surat, Which is the best route? Hi, I am planning to travel to Surat from Pune next week, which road is the best? I am getting mixed reports, such as 1) Pune - Nashik - Surat 2) Pune - Mumbai - Surat interestingly, Yahoo maps has shown the route as here whereas if i select lonavala(since it is just 40 min. away, thx to the Expressway) to surat it shows like here Is it possible to do a return trip in one day with 5-6 hrs stay in surat? TIA
	() Thanks

25th November 2007, 19:45	#2
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,466 Times	The best route is via Bombay. The Nashik route involves going through some bad ghat roads. The road via Bombay to Surat is great all the way. Distance from Bombay is 280 kms. I am a very fast driver, have done this in 4 hours, but I would expect a moderately fast driver to take around 5-6 hours. Add 2 hours fpor Pune-Bombay and 1 hour to bypass Bombay, that makes 7-8 hours for teh Pune-Surat trip. Unless you are prepared to drive through the night 1 way, it is not possible to drive to and fro the same day. To bypass BOmbay, take teh following route: Kalamboli (NH4,expressway end)-Belapur-Nerul-Turbhe-Kopar Khairne-Airoli-Airoli Thane Creek Bridge-Eastern Expressway at Bhandup/Mulund-Mulund-Thane-Thane/Kapurwadi-Ghodbunder Road-Ghodbunder (NH8). Ideally, leave early from Pune (say, 4-5 am) so that you can cross Bombay by 7 am before traffic intensifies. NH8 from Ghodbunder is in good condition via Manor, Charoti, Talasary, Vapi, Valsad, Navsari. Expect traffic jams approching Surat because of flyover construction work in the Surat bypass.
	() Thanks

25th November 2007, 20:13	#3
IMP BHPian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 123 Thanked: 30 Times	Thanks for the comprehensive details, especially the mumbai bypass route. I will opt the mumbai route now. One more thing, i do 240 kms in 3.5 hrs from pune to kolhapur quiet regularly (100kph constant), so do you think this road should be any different? (I am assuming the NH-8 to be 4 lane all through)
	() Thanks

25th November 2007, 20:53	#4
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,466 Times	It is 4 lane all the way, and good road at that, but the Pune-Kolhapur is faster (I myself do the 400 kms from Bombay to Kolhapur in 4.5 hours). Traffic is very high on NH8, but you can keep cruising speeds of 100 kmph.
	() Thanks

27th November 2007, 12:08	#5
nitindangoria BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 109 Thanked: 3 Times	Mods : Please redirect this page to the correct thread if I am deviating from the rules. Since Mr. HV Kumar is involved in answering this thread I am posting this. Myself and my family would like to extend my sincere appreciation to Mr. H V Kumar for his excellent report on the Hyd-Goa route via Bijapur, which I recently used. Thanks to his reporting I could return to Hyd avoiding the longer and terrible road via Kolhapur. IMO he's doing yeoman service by suggesting the best routes, including all details of petrol bunks, roadside restaurants etc. We are proud to have him in our midst.
	() Thanks

3rd April 2009, 21:37	#7
dark_horizon BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: mumbai Posts: 78 Thanked: 6 Times	You should take the same route as suggested by HV for Surat-Pune. NH8 for Surat to Mumbai , bypass via Ghodbunder-Eastern Express Highway-Mulund-Airoli-Turbhe-Nerul-Expressway, take the lonavala cut from the expressway. Ideally, it should take 6-7 hours for the entire trip. 4-5 hrs for Surat-Mumbai, 1 hour in Mumbai, & 1 hour on the expressway.
	() Thanks

3rd April 2009, 22:12	#8
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,466 Times	Same Vapi-manor-Thane-New Bombay route is best.
	() Thanks

6th April 2009, 19:50	#11
AkhileshDalia Newbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: SURAT Posts: 12 Thanked: 0 Times	Ankleshwar does not come between Surat-Lonawala. Do you have any idea about Thane?
	() Thanks

7th April 2009, 20:12	#13
AkhileshDalia Newbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: SURAT Posts: 12 Thanked: 0 Times	Great geographi mind!! HV I have all papers ready with me. What RTO of MH demands?
	() Thanks

7th April 2009, 20:51	#14
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,466 Times	Carry all papers in original. - R C Book - Driving License - Insurance - PUC Normally, private cars are not stopped unless there is a security check post (naka bandi). Wear seat belts at all times. No talking on mobile, you will be caught even if you are on hands-free. In cities like Bombay, drunken driving attracts imprisonment/ heavy fines. Don't stop at any check post, no need for private cars. Hopefully, your number plates are both in English. Very dark sun film is not permitted (but I don't know what thickness/ transparency is permissible). Ensure lane discipline at signals in cities.
	() Thanks

8th April 2009, 07:12	#15
AkhileshDalia Newbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: SURAT Posts: 12 Thanked: 0 Times	HV, Big Thank You!!!!
	() Thanks