[srvm]

A follow-up to my previous post.

Between Chitoor and Ranipet, near AP-TN border there are couple of places where barricades (concrete ones) were placed. My most recent trip in this route was on 9th June.

First barricade is near the junction where road from Chittoor forks into two - one to Vellore via Katpadi. Another to Ranipet.
Second barricade is at Serkadu-Vallimalai cross road near Thiruvalluvar University.

The gaps in the barricade are small - 2 and 4 wheelers can just about pass through but LCVs and trucks cannot. There are small boards warning traffic to take detour via Vellore but most 2 & 4 wheelers ignore. When trucks ignore this sign, then they get stuck at the barricades with a long line of vehicles on both sides also stuck due to this.

I was lucky on both onward and return journeys while passing these barricades since traffic in my direction was passing through the narrow barricade. But I did observe traffic in the opposite direction was piled up for quite a distance.

The problem is the lack of decent alternatives:
If one takes Chittoor-Katpadi-Vellore route, one has to manage the chaotic Katpadi-Vellore section.
Else one has to go inside Chittor town (again can become tiresome due to chaotic traffic) and go via Ponnai-Ranipet.

[Madrasin_selvan]

Originally Posted by srvm

The gaps in the barricade are small - 2 and 4 wheelers can just about pass through but LCVs and trucks cannot. There are small boards warning traffic to take detour via Vellore but most 2 & 4 wheelers ignore. When trucks ignore this sign, then they get stuck at the barricades with a long line of vehicles on both sides also stuck due to this.

This is exactly what transpired when I was travelling to Chennai yesterday evening. A truck got stuck between the concrete barricades and had to reverse after a lot of struggle, which eventually created a traffic jam on both sides. I could find a person posted to marshal the traffic around those barricades, but I could see him getting overruled on many occasions.

[Madrasin_selvan]

An update on the Take Diversion close to TN-AP Border.

Yesterday, while taking a journey from Chennai to Bangalore, this section of road was completely closed. This is at the intersection after Thiruvalluvar University, two wheelers alone were allowed to go after this section. We were routed along the Valliamlai - Ponnai - Chittoor route and had to face the brunt of Chittoor traffic at around 6 pm.

In hindsight, I should have taken the left towards Katpadi and rejoined the highway back.

Not sure for how long this diversion is going to be in place, frequent travellers can update on this.



Red - Location of the Barricades
Green - The route which I took
Blue - Alternative Route which could save some time

[ravib]

Originally Posted by Madrasin_selvan

An update on the Take Diversion close to TN-AP Border.

Thanks @madrasin_selvan.
I believe going through Chittoor town is much better than going via Katpadi/Vellore traffic. I could be wrong, but that's my experience.

-Ravi

[narayans80]

I had taken the Chittoor route both way onward last Friday early morning and return on Saturday night.

Had no problem on the onward drive. There was fortunately very less traffic on the narrowest section. Remaining diversions were easily manageable.

On the return drive, the experience was similar to Madrasin selvan described. All 4+ wheelers were forced to take the Katpadi-Vellore route.

Originally Posted by ravib

I believe going through Chittoor town is much better than going via Katpadi/Vellore traffic.

While am no fan of the Katpadi-Vellore road which starts with massive craters in the first 500 meters and remaining distance is average, you'll still be able to maintain a decent pace 40-70 kph thereabouts. It was manageable when we drove at 5 pm last year, it was even more easier when we crossed at 1120 pm last week.

Besides you can catch up sometime on the 6-laned Vellore-Rainpet

[Capri89]

Came down to Bengaluru via Chittoor on Thursday18th.

The diversion after Thiruvalluvar University, the barricade is partly open for four wheelers to ply. So, seeing some cars going straight I too followed them.

The route takes us through a village road, some pakka some kachcha, all single lane though. Scenic route indeed. If one is daring and adventurous one can go for it. Not recommended if it has rained previously, for obvious reasons.

Appending a short video to get a feel of the route.

https://youtu.be/Vc4oTxAS2Us

[ravib]

Originally Posted by Capri89

Came down to Bengaluru via Chittoor on Thursday18th.

Thanks for sharing. Doesn't look like worth to take it now, as it is raining on & off many days. With narrow roads, if some idiot drives badly, then we may get stuck. Better to stick to main roads is what i think after seeing the video.

-Ravi

[ssbiitm]

Thanks Capri89 for sharing the video. Gives a very good idea of what one faces! Narrow roads and possible muddy zones from the rains - bit more than daring and adventurous for me!

Am planning to drive to Bangalore this Friday. Since I go to Yelahanka, the Kolar route is more appealing. Plus, I usually take the new Satellite Ring road (NE7/SH648) from Hoskote to Devanahalli and get to Yelahanka from the airport side. Its perhaps longer, but a nice & smoother drive both for me and the car & therefore worth it! After crossing Ranipettai, I think I would prefer to turn off on SH59, head to Katpadi via VIT and get back to NH40 at the Naraharipeta checkpost. Any idea about the condition of the road?

Of course, you can ask - why go through Ranipettai at all and not go up to Vellore after crossing Palar & Arcot and then take the road to Katpadi! Because I usually stop at Amirtha Restaurant/Darling Bakery (located at the junction of NH 40 and 124A just after the TTDC hotel & District Collector Office) for breakfast/snacks. Nice people serving there and the food has always been very tasty. And they sell yummy (dal, ellu, idli...) "podis" which I love. Hence....

Alternate route suggestions are, of course, welcome.
ssbiitm

[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by Capri89

The route takes us through a village road, some pakka some kachcha, all single lane though. Scenic route indeed. If one is daring and adventurous one can go for it. Not recommended if it has rained previously, for obvious reasons.

God! Not advisable at all in a heavily loaded sedan. Those concrete edges can be razor sharp and it only takes one tyre to burst/get badly damaged to wreck the entire trip.

Reminds me of the Chittoor - Tirupati section before they finished the highway.

[ssbiitm]

Did the Chennai - Bangalore drive yesterday.
Started at 0900 from IIT Chennai.
Took the Tambaram - Vandalur - Oragadam - Sunguvurchattram to get onto NH 4.
Followed NH4 till Vellore and turned off towards Katpadi (skipped Amirtha this time) - the road was reasonably good (although a bit narrow). Joined NH40 at Naraharipeta having avoided all the construction diversion in the Ranipettai - Chittoor stretch. Thanks narayans80 for the warnings. But I didnt see/notice any of the massive potholes - may be I will on the way back!!
At Hoskote took NE7 all the way to Devanahalli and then the airport road to Yelahanka. Reached New Town at 1700. 8 hours door to door inclusive of one lunch break at Murugan Idli and a juice break at Balaji Bhavan. Used to be 6.5-7 hours earlier.

Cheers,
ssbiitm
Baleno Alpha petrol

[srvm]

Originally Posted by Capri89

Came down to Bengaluru via Chittoor on Thursday18th.

Thanks for this post Capri89.
I had taken this route from Bangalore to Chennai in April 2024 late in the night and I had posted about it in same thread (Post #356). It was a desolate, narrow stretch and in hindsight, I would not recommend this route even in day time because of the narrow roads.

This is what I had posted in April:

Crossed CMC Chitoor campus around 9.40pm. Didn't want to go via Katpadi-Vellore. Took chance with Ranipet route since some trucks were going past barricades. Work going on at Bommasamudram railway gate. JCBs working even at night. They stop after 15-20 minutes to let piled up traffic pass through. Locals suggested us to go via Nanmangalam village, go below a railway underpass near Bommasamudram railway station and join near Zion Hill church. Had to drive on a very narrow, very bumpy, mud road for 10 nervous minutes. Not at all recommended even in daylight. Two cars cannot fit in this narrow mud road. Better to go via Katpadi - Vellore. I had a kind hearted local in a 2-wheeler acting like a pilot vehicle and showing me the way at 10pm in the night.

For those of you wondering which route this is. It will not show up in normal GMaps view. Snaps from the Satellite view is shown below (BLR-CHN direction):

[ravib]

I drove from Bangalore to Madras on Sunday 28th evening and returned on 30th Tuesday morning.

I had mixed experience near Bommasamudram railway gate.

While going towards madras, on sunday evening all cars went inside the one car gap between the cement barricades and i too followed.
Near to Railway gate also, the cement barricades were open where one car can go , so all the cars were able to get through without issues and after crossing the gate, take the immediate newly laid service road to reach ZION hill and cross the AP-TN border.
Absolutely no issues, and it was like as if we normally cross anytime.

Expecting the same in selfish way , while returning back to Bangalore on Tuesday morning, i drove all the way till Railway gate crossing the first cement barricade after Thiruvalluvar university.
However, i was unlucky , where the 2nd cement barricade after the railway track was not open this (which was open on sunday evening), so no way to cross. So had to back track a bit and took the route that Capri89 mentioned with video. The satellite images posted by srvm is the accurate route.

It took some 10 minutes approximately to get back to same spot to get across the barricade to drive through the adventurous detour. Everything Capri89 mentioned is 100% correct.

Since i was driving SUV, and can easily get through smaller potholes, and also i was along in broad day light around 9 am with no rains on previous day, took the bet to try out the route and i could get through.

So, those who are willing to take that 10 minutes detour, can defenitely go for it. However, i would strongly not recommend for inexperienced drivers, those who cannot navigate the narrow road comfortably. For sure you may scratch sides of your car or the opposite side car ! If you have patience to give way to opposite side vehicles in available space and drive , then yes go for it. Else, better take right or left after Thiruvalluvar university itself in first barricade and go through long detour.

Or last option is to drive via Vellore-Katpadi and join back before Chittoor CMC campus road.

-Ravi


-Ravi

[ampere]

Originally Posted by ravib

I drove from Bangalore to Madras on Sunday 28th evening and returned on 30th Tuesday morning.

One suggestion: Why don't you all try: Chitoor-Ponnai-Ranipet road?
Route Link

[anandhsub]

Originally Posted by ravib

I drove from Bangalore to Madras on Sunday 28th evening and returned on 30th Tuesday morning.

I had mixed experience near Bommasamudram railway gate.

While going towards madras, on sunday evening all cars went inside the one car gap between the cement barricades and i too followed.

Are the barricades removed on weekends/ public holidays?

Have driven to Chennai 5 times in the last 3 months, always taking the Chittoor route, and never once have I had to to take a detour.

I always travel on Saturday morning and return Sunday late night.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by ravib

Or last option is to drive via Vellore-Katpadi and join back before Chittoor CMC campus road.

It took only 10 minutes extra. So why not? Driving through Katpadi roads are much better than gully roads with opposing traffic.