Travel to Chennai - given the Hogenakkal issue)

eclectix 1st · 3rd April 2008, 10:03

Border crossing points like Hosur, Madhumalai (for ooty) there's never been a problem for private vehicle's (= cars).

AFAIK the so called protesters always target the govt buses & goods vehicles.

Buses they burn/smashed

, Goods vehicles are not allowed to cross the border.

Looks like they want to harm only the Govt property.

dadu · 3rd April 2008, 10:19

Quite true, no individual vehicles are usually harmed/ stopped.

Under current conditions the traffic flows as usual and even the interstate commercial traffic is plying normally.

Quote:

Originally Posted by eclectix 1st

Border crossing points like Hosur, Madhumalai (for ooty) there's never been a problem for private vehicle's (= cars).

AFAIK the so called protesters always target the govt buses & goods vehicles.

Buses they burn/smashed

, Goods vehicles are not allowed to cross the border.

Looks like they want to harm only the Govt property.

HappyWheels · 3rd April 2008, 10:37

true, no private vehicles are disturbed; but having said that, we can only hope that it remains like that. we never know what a mob 'mentality' is and how it will swing.

another interesting point is that previously it was always that TN vehicles used to be stopped / stonned , Tamil channels used to be blacked out in cable and all such things while nothing of this sort happened to KA vehicles or channels in TN. But of late people in TN are also resorting to the same tactics. (am not sure if it was there earlier and was not covered by the media!)

one particular incident was last year when a group of Tamil movie makers were not allowed to shoot a movie in Bangalore . This lead to TN movie association people driving out / blocking all the KA movie shoots in Ooty. The end result was that more KA shoots were cancelled than TN ones.

Such a pity to see such things happening in our country. Last night read a scroll in MTV (yeah MTV) - 'How many countries do we have in India?'!!! It seems to be true!

And do not talk about Rediff; the board over there is only for mud sligging!

PraveenM · 3rd April 2008, 10:41

I faced a similar situation when I was working in Bangalore when Rajkumar (the famous Kannadiga actor) was kidnapped.

The mobs also targeted private vehicles, and mine was TN registered. I had take off the cars number plates even when parked in the basement of Diamond District.

We left Bangalore at 3:30am via Old Madras road to reach Palmaner (in AP) in the safety of darkness!

I don't think that the current situation is that bad.

Rotorhead · 3rd April 2008, 10:42

Since i used to own a TN vehicle in bangalore and have travelled a couple of times to ooty and coimbatore during the last river issue, what i have noticed is that the problem seems more with TN vehicles in Karnataka , especially around mysore , mandya region coz I have been chased by guys on tractor, but people on the road generally let u pass if you are travelling with family. But I havent noticed any issues when KA vehicles enter TN borders. Havent seen anybody being harassed in the hosure /krishnagiri entry point either.

eclectix 1st · 3rd April 2008, 10:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rotorhead

especially around mysore , mandya region coz I have been chased by guys on tractor,

what were you driving dude?

Rotorhead · 3rd April 2008, 11:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by eclectix 1st

what were you driving dude?

M800..but its not possible to move fast in all the stretches..

suvi · 3rd April 2008, 11:19

Chennai is usually safe. Use Old Madras Road if possible and avoid Krishnagiri. I think even Ooty should be ok for private cars if you can speak in Tamil.
Usually cars are safe when they are mobile

See to it that you park only in safe and covered car parks away from sensitive areas.
Avoid driving on Bangalore - Mysore Highway (except very early in Morning or after Dark) since that is where (esp Mandya) they conduct Road Roko

evo8 · 3rd April 2008, 12:05

I dont think it should be a problem this time.

Last time when the problem was even serious and a Bandh announced, I had to drop a friend @ Hosur, so he can continue his onward journey and I had a TN registered car at that time. It was a real experience. It was like all the buses from tn dive up to the border and drop off passengers and people walked across the borders and boarded KA buses. Meanwhile auto guys were making merry of situation by acting as a transit between the buses. It roughly mins from the border to koramangala. And I witnessed an accident even when the ec roads were deserted.

VMG · 3rd April 2008, 12:31

I am planning to go to Coorg this month by road with my family.
Is it safe to drive? Your(Bangalore guys) views please.

dadu · 3rd April 2008, 12:36

As of now it seems safe.

Monday is anyway Ugadi, so none of these groups would want to spoil the festivities in KA.

TN is anyway peaceful.

The various groups in KA are divided on the bandh dates due to festival and exams and no final date for bandh yet.

No blockage of cable channels in both KA and TN is a good sign.

Plying of interstate buses/ traffic is a good sign.

But we need to keep a daily watch, specifically around the dates of your travel plan.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VMG

I am planning to go to Coorg this month by road with my family.
Is it safe to drive? Your(Bangalore guys) views please.

eclectix 1st · 3rd April 2008, 13:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by VMG

I am planning to go to Coorg this month by road with my family.
Is it safe to drive? Your(Bangalore guys) views please.

If your vehicle has KA plates, ideally there is no issue at all, going to coorg.

But, if these stupid protesters intensify their protest, then there may be road blocks. which will slow you down. Generally no violence on private cars.

This is usually around Mandya &/ Maddur

If you have TN plates, its a different game altogether.

Rotorhead · 3rd April 2008, 13:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by VMG

I am planning to go to Coorg this month by road with my family.
Is it safe to drive? Your(Bangalore guys) views please.

It is safe as long as your vehicle is KA regd coz you will not even get close to mysore to go to coorg. But if at all you hear of road blocks en-route and if you are really desperate to get to coorg then you can try the mangalore-coorg route, but it might be pretty lengthy detour. Or you can try leaving very early in the morning.

HappyWheels · 3rd April 2008, 13:47

VMG,

just follow the news closely. due to the festival time approaching, i do not think that the protestors will be very active (if at all present).

due to various factor mentioned in the posts above, do not feel that this one protest has so much steam to it as the other issues that we have seen before.

but, not trying to scare you, but a crowd who is into road blocking will not be too friendly with a TN registered vehicle. True that private vehicles are left alone, but in the interiors of KA, they do not have too many TN government vehicles to attack as against their Bangalore based members!

If there is no concrete solution to this by tomorrow and if you are not desperate to get to Coorg, request you to put this off for some other time. Do plan to some other place.

Going for a vacation and having to worry about such a situation is a bad way to spend time!

esteem_lover · 3rd April 2008, 13:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by VMG

I am planning to go to Coorg this month by road with my family.
Is it safe to drive? Your(Bangalore guys) views please.

Quote:

Originally Posted by eclectix 1st

This is usually around Mandya &/ Maddur

If you have TN plates, its a different game altogether.

The usual trouble spots are around the mandya region. My coorgi friend had a lot of trouble with his TN regd Vtec to the point that he was forced to re-register his car to KA.

3rd April 2008, 10:03	#16
eclectix 1st BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: BANGALORE Posts: 380 Thanked: 6 Times View My Garage	Border crossing points like Hosur, Madhumalai (for ooty) there's never been a problem for private vehicle's (= cars). AFAIK the so called protesters always target the govt buses & goods vehicles. Buses they burn/smashed , Goods vehicles are not allowed to cross the border. Looks like they want to harm only the Govt property.
	() Thanks

3rd April 2008, 10:37	#18
HappyWheels Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 4,145 Thanked: 571 Times	true, no private vehicles are disturbed; but having said that, we can only hope that it remains like that. we never know what a mob 'mentality' is and how it will swing. another interesting point is that previously it was always that TN vehicles used to be stopped / stonned , Tamil channels used to be blacked out in cable and all such things while nothing of this sort happened to KA vehicles or channels in TN. But of late people in TN are also resorting to the same tactics. (am not sure if it was there earlier and was not covered by the media!) one particular incident was last year when a group of Tamil movie makers were not allowed to shoot a movie in Bangalore . This lead to TN movie association people driving out / blocking all the KA movie shoots in Ooty. The end result was that more KA shoots were cancelled than TN ones. Such a pity to see such things happening in our country. Last night read a scroll in MTV (yeah MTV) - 'How many countries do we have in India?'!!! It seems to be true! And do not talk about Rediff; the board over there is only for mud sligging!
	() Thanks

3rd April 2008, 10:41	#19
PraveenM BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 125 Thanked: 32 Times	I faced a similar situation when I was working in Bangalore when Rajkumar (the famous Kannadiga actor) was kidnapped. The mobs also targeted private vehicles, and mine was TN registered. I had take off the cars number plates even when parked in the basement of Diamond District. We left Bangalore at 3:30am via Old Madras road to reach Palmaner (in AP) in the safety of darkness! I don't think that the current situation is that bad.
	() Thanks

3rd April 2008, 10:42	#20
Rotorhead BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 939 Thanked: 29 Times	Since i used to own a TN vehicle in bangalore and have travelled a couple of times to ooty and coimbatore during the last river issue, what i have noticed is that the problem seems more with TN vehicles in Karnataka , especially around mysore , mandya region coz I have been chased by guys on tractor, but people on the road generally let u pass if you are travelling with family. But I havent noticed any issues when KA vehicles enter TN borders. Havent seen anybody being harassed in the hosure /krishnagiri entry point either. Last edited by Rotorhead : 3rd April 2008 at 10:45.
	() Thanks

3rd April 2008, 11:19	#23
suvi BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 122 Thanked: 6 Times	Chennai is usually safe. Use Old Madras Road if possible and avoid Krishnagiri. I think even Ooty should be ok for private cars if you can speak in Tamil. Usually cars are safe when they are mobile See to it that you park only in safe and covered car parks away from sensitive areas. Avoid driving on Bangalore - Mysore Highway (except very early in Morning or after Dark) since that is where (esp Mandya) they conduct Road Roko
	() Thanks

3rd April 2008, 12:05	#24
evo8 BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 54 Thanked: 9 Times	I dont think it should be a problem this time. Last time when the problem was even serious and a Bandh announced, I had to drop a friend @ Hosur, so he can continue his onward journey and I had a TN registered car at that time. It was a real experience. It was like all the buses from tn dive up to the border and drop off passengers and people walked across the borders and boarded KA buses. Meanwhile auto guys were making merry of situation by acting as a transit between the buses. It roughly mins from the border to koramangala. And I witnessed an accident even when the ec roads were deserted.
	() Thanks

3rd April 2008, 12:31	#25
VMG BHPian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Chennai Posts: 347 Thanked: 47 Times	I am planning to go to Coorg this month by road with my family. Is it safe to drive? Your(Bangalore guys) views please.
	() Thanks

3rd April 2008, 13:47	#29
HappyWheels Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 4,145 Thanked: 571 Times	VMG, just follow the news closely. due to the festival time approaching, i do not think that the protestors will be very active (if at all present). due to various factor mentioned in the posts above, do not feel that this one protest has so much steam to it as the other issues that we have seen before. but, not trying to scare you, but a crowd who is into road blocking will not be too friendly with a TN registered vehicle. True that private vehicles are left alone, but in the interiors of KA, they do not have too many TN government vehicles to attack as against their Bangalore based members! If there is no concrete solution to this by tomorrow and if you are not desperate to get to Coorg, request you to put this off for some other time. Do plan to some other place. Going for a vacation and having to worry about such a situation is a bad way to spend time!
	() Thanks