[Irish]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

How do you propose to bypass Agra, while driving from Mathura on NH 2? I may consider that option for my next trip to the North.

Hi,

If you are going towards Gwalior from Delhi via Yamuna Expressway then it's a kind of U turn which we take after finishing YE. Then we have to drive through the complete Agra city to take Gwalior road. And after 8 AM it will take more time to cross Agra city. The straight from YE finish point goes towards Etawah / Kanpur.

Another option can be to take Mathura exit on YE and keep driving via old national highway i.e. NH2 towards Agra. As soon as the Agra city limits starts (16-17 kms before Agra city), there is a red light, where 80% of truck traffic takes right turn towards Gwalior / Dhaulpur. There is proper road sign for Gwalior before that red light. This way one can avoid the heavy rush of Agra city during day time. I have read somewhere that this raod has a couple of railway crossings too which creates traafic jams if closed for longer durations. Don't know about the current status of flyovers being built over these two.

PS: I haven't driven from Agra onwards (towards Gwalior). This is what I have noticed during couple of my Agra drives and one drive towards Allahabad via Kanpur.


Cheers!
Irish

Originally Posted by Irish

I have read somewhere that this raod has a couple of railway crossings too which creates traafic jams if closed for longer durations. Don't know about the current status of flyovers being built over these two.

I checked with my MapMyIndia navigator version 9.1 and found that the bypass crosses 4 railway lines from NH 3 to NH 2. The bypass from NH 3 to NH 11 is shown as 4-laned, which crosses 2 railway lines and the remaining as undivided road with crossings of 2 railway lines. But, I am not sure how many of total 4 railway lines have flyovers/overbridges. Let me try during my next trip. Thanks for the idea, Irish.

[Irish]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

I checked with my MapMyIndia navigator version 9.1 and found that the bypass crosses 4 railway lines from NH 3 to NH 2. The bypass from NH 3 to NH 11 is shown as 4-laned, which crosses 2 railway lines and the remaining as undivided road with crossings of 2 railway lines. But, I am not sure how many of total 4 railway lines have flyovers/overbridges. Let me try during my next trip. Thanks for the idea, Irish.

If everything goes fine, then I will update you on this.

I've read in some other forums / threads that flyovers were under progress in late 2014. So we can not hope for completion of all of them.


Cheers!
Irish

[Irish]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

I checked with my MapMyIndia navigator version 9.1 and found that the bypass crosses 4 railway lines from NH 3 to NH 2. The bypass from NH 3 to NH 11 is shown as 4-laned, which crosses 2 railway lines and the remaining as undivided road with crossings of 2 railway lines. But, I am not sure how many of total 4 railway lines have flyovers/overbridges. Let me try during my next trip. Thanks for the idea, Irish.

AGRA BYEPASS

I did this stretch while going from Delhi to Bhilai (CG) and back last week. As mentioned earlier, if you are driving from Delhi towards Gwalior then take RIGHT turn (towards Dholpur) from a red light which is approximately 15 kms before Agra city. Please follow the route as:

• Go straight and take the first flyover over the railway line.
• After around 2 kms the straight road goes to Bharatpur and you have to take left.
• You will encounter first railway crossing. The road is in WORST shape only at the railway crossing.
• Keep going straight and you will cross two road junctions and one more railway crossing.
• Now there is a flyover on last railway crossing also. BUt please beware of the WORST patch once you descend while coming from Gwalior side.
• Once you reach the THIRD road junction take right towards Dholpur.

Points to be noted:

• Beware of REAL speed breakers all the way till you reach the main Dholpur highway. The cars with low GC should be extra careful.
• The road is narrow with dual carriageway all the way till NH3.
• Please be extra careful on this entire stretch as there are very less number of cars and two wheelers.
• Heavy truck traffic during peak hours (according to entry & exit timings of Delhi).

While going towards Dholpur from Delhi, at around 9:30 AM, normal truck traffic with only 5 minutes waiting time at first railway crossing. And while coming back at around 8:00 PM, heavy truck traffic with both the railway barriers opened.

Landmark to take the byepass while coming from Gwalior / Dholpur:

Keep watching the road junction when Agra city is exactly 8 kms. When you approach this junction then there are a couple of road signs (Agra Byepass - Take Left & Distance to Delhi) on the LHS behind the tapris & trucks parked on the main highway. You have to take LEFT from this junction. Be careful while descending the first flyover.


All in all, this byepass is highly recommended over the Agra city traffic anytime during the day with above mentioned precautions.


Cheers!
Irish

[neerajsharma48]

Originally Posted by Irish

AGRA BYEPASS

I did this stretch while going from Delhi to Bhilai (CG) and back last week. As mentioned earlier, if you are driving from Delhi towards Gwalior then take RIGHT turn (towards Dholpur) from a red light which is approximately 15 kms before Agra city. Please follow the route as:


Cheers!
Irish

Agra bypass (as it exists) only makes sense if you want to approach Agra from the Mathura side. The turn off from the highway towards Gwalior is 3 Km before Sikandra. To turn right from the divided highway you will have to go about 500 metres further (east) to do a U turn, and turn left when you get back to the turn off.

After the turn off follow the divided dual carriageway till you come to a T junction with a single carriageway road. Turn RIGHT ( on to Bichpuri Road) here and for a Rail level crossing (300 metres) and after the level crossing (1Km) and Turn Left on to the ring road which will lead you (across SH 11 and 39) to NH 3 crossing.

Please see attached map.

The Yamuna expressway meets NH 2 (on Agra Firozabad Highway stretch) well East of Agra. I am not aware of any bypass to wards the south from this point.

[srimath]

I am planning to drive to Del from Hyd next week. What is the road condition and which is the best route?

[Krishnan V G]

Originally Posted by srimath

I am planning to drive to Del from Hyd next week. What is the road condition and which is the best route?

Hi,
We are driving to Hyderabad from Gurgaon, leaving tomorrow. Will drive through the following route -

Day 1: Gurgaon, Noida, Yamuna Expressway Upto Mathura, get into the Agra bypass and exit to join national highway outside Agra on the way to Dholpur, Morena, Gwalior bypass, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Sagar. Night halt at Hotel Deepali Resodency,Sagar,MP.
Day 2: Leave Sagar, drive via Narasinghpur, Chindwara, Nagpur, Hinganghat, Adilabad, Nirmal and reach Hyderabad.

We have always taken the Delhi Agra Gwalior Jhansi Bhopal Nagpur Adilabad Nirmal Hyderabad route but this time we have decided to avoid going the Bhopal route basis our past experiences of bad roads between Bhopal and Betul via Itarsi and positive feedback from Team BHP members about the route via Sagar.
Will give you my feedback of our new route to reach Hyderabad on Thursday evening.

[unoczar]

Originally Posted by Krishnan V G

We have always taken the Delhi Agra Gwalior Jhansi Bhopal Nagpur Adilabad Nirmal Hyderabad route but this time we have decided to avoid going the Bhopal route basis our past experiences of bad roads between Bhopal and Betul via Itarsi and positive feedback from Team BHP members about the route via Sagar.
Will give you my feedback of our new route to reach Hyderabad on Thursday evening.

Hi, why not the RJ, GJ, MH route? 200-300 KM extra I feel. Never done that route, but I'm planning HYD-DEL-HYD in OCT, so researching as of now.

Some Q's I need answers to for my trip -

I would need a place to stop over doing DEL-HYD around half way. I plan to do this in 2 days. My proposed trip - https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?m...E.ke29VyCIlnQI

I have work in Mukundpur.. that's why doing that route while going.

Route refinements, stop overs are needed as of now.
Current planned stop overs - 1. Jabalpur, 2. mukundpur (necessary), 3. Agra (Taj - again), 4. Delhi. Way Back - 5. (to be decided)

Would appreciate if HVK sir could put in his views here.

Thanks.

[Landkruzer]

Originally Posted by Krishnan V G

Hi,
Day 2: Leave Sagar, drive via Narasinghpur, Chindwara, Nagpur, Hinganghat, Adilabad, Nirmal and reach Hyderabad.

Will give you my feedback of our new route to reach Hyderabad on Thursday evening.

Havent seen anyone exploring the route via Chindwara. Though few bhpians mentioned that this route is in very good shape, no first hand reports are available. This will be good alternative to NH 7 to avoid the forest section between nagpur and seoni which goes to bad state very often. Looking forward to your report.

[Krishnan V G]

Originally Posted by Landkruzer

Havent seen anyone exploring the route via Chindwara. Though few bhpians mentioned that this route is in very good shape, no first hand reports are available. This will be good alternative to NH 7 to avoid the forest section between nagpur and seoni which goes to bad state very often. Looking forward to your report.

Hi, just checked into Hotel Deepali at Sagar, MP. The drive from Gurgaon to Sagar was excellent as the roads are in very good shape almost the entire route from Gurgaon. Tomorrow will drive from Sagar to Hyderabad via Narasinghpur, Chindwara, Nagpur and from Nagpur via Hinghangat, Adilabad and Nirmal. Was told by dhaba owner that the route from Sagar to Nagpur via Chindwara is four laned and in very good shape. Will give my first hand report tomorrow.

[Irish]

I did a solo non stop drive from Delhi to Bhilai via Matura - Agra - Gwalior - Jhansi - Lalitpur - Sagar - Narsinghpur - Lakhnadon - Seoni - Balaghat - Gondia - Dongargarh - Rajnandgaon - Durg - Bhilai.

Started from Delhi at 4 AM on 22nd April and reached around 12 in the midnight. The non stop return journey was done on 5th May.

My updates (Till SEONI) on this route as on 5th May 2015:

1. Since I started at 4 AM from Delhi so I took NH2 i.e. Ashram - Faridabad - Palwal - Mathura - Agra. The early morning truck traffic and the road widening (4 lanes to 6 lanes) work under progress, reduces your overall speed. If you really want to cover the distance upto Agra quickly or leaving Delhi after 7 AM then take YEW only.

2. Took Agra byepass i.e. right turn towards Dholpur when Agra town is around 15 kms. There are two flyovers, 2 railway barriers and three road junctions which you have to cross. Overall this is recommended over the Agra city city mess during the day. If you are going via YEW then take the Vrindavan or Mathura exit to take the Agra byepass towards Dholpur/ Gwalior. There is no byepass after YEW and you have to enter the busy Agra roads to go towards Dholpur / Gwalior.

3. Gwalior byepass is superb but once it's over the WORST nightmare of this route starts. Endless diversions, single road, lots of dust, nicely laid deep potholes and speedbreaker like joints on almost all the bridges. You have to enter Babina town as there is no byepass as of now and it again kills your speed. The situation of the road is more or less same upto Datia. Post which the potholes are less but everything else remains the same upto Jhansi.

4. After crossing Jhansi, you will feel like you are in heaven. Superb tolled roads and you won't feel bad in paying the toll (RS 80 - 90) after almost every 90-100 kms.

5. Once you reach the Lalitpur byepass, you will see a a huge petrol station (Bharat Petroleum) on your LHS. There is also a small restaurant in this but I didn't tasted it's food so no comments on that. Please be aware that number of good petrol pumps on this route (Jhansi - Seoni) are very rare and also the diesel is costlier in MP. Therefore, make use of this petrol pump.

6. You can easily do 100+ on this route but please be aware of cows (in groups of 20+) resting in the middle of the highways. And the bikers coming on the wrong side. If you spot a calf on the road side then you should be dead slow because it can start jumping and running to any direction, at any point of time, depending upon it's mood. You can also spot villagers sitting on the road side during evening and the mornings.

7. When you go around 250 mtrs inside Seoni, there is again a BP pump on the LHS with good quality of fuel. If you want to go towards Balaghat from Seoni then no need to go inside the Seoni town (as I did). There is a byepass (road goes towards LHS) after this BP pump and before the town strarts and the stratight goes to Hyderabad.


Random pics from the drive to show the quality of the highway between Jhansi and Seoni:


Going towards Seoni


Coming from Seoni


Please note that there are very less number of good restaurants and petrol pumps between Jhansi and Seoni. So please plan accordingly.

Please do let me know in case of any queries related to this route.

Cheers!
Irish

[Landkruzer]

Originally Posted by Krishnan V G

Was told by dhaba owner that the route from Sagar to Nagpur via Chindwara is four laned and in very good shape. Will give my first hand report tomorrow.

Only the Sagar to Narsingpur section is 4 laned. The Narsingpur-Chindwara-Savner is a 2 lane road. Though it was declared as a NH long back, only recently it was upgraded by NHAI. Most of the towns/villages are bypassed and lot of winding sections straightened. So expect a good drive.

[Krishnan V G]

Originally Posted by Irish

I did a solo non stop drive from Delhi to Bhilai via Matura - Agra - Gwalior - Jhansi - Lalitpur - Sagar - Narsinghpur - Lakhnadon - Seoni - Balaghat - Gondia - Dongargarh - Rajnandgaon - Durg - Bhilai.

Started from Delhi at 4 AM on 22nd April and reached around 12 in the midnight. The non stop return journey was done on 5th May.

My updates (Till SEONI) on this route as on 5th May 2015:

1. Since I started at 4 AM from Delhi so I took NH2 i.e. Ashram - Faridabad - Palwal - Mathura - Agra. The early morning truck traffic and the road widening (4 lanes to 6 lanes) work under progress, reduces your overall speed. If you really want to cover the distance upto Agra quickly or leaving Delhi after 7 AM then take YEW only.

2. Took Agra byepass i.e. right turn towards Dholpur when Agra town is around 15 kms. There are two flyovers, 2 railway barriers and three road junctions which you have to cross. Overall this is recommended over the Agra city city mess during the day. If you are going via YEW then take the Vrindavan or Mathura exit to take the Agra byepass towards Dholpur/ Gwalior. There is no byepass after YEW and you have to enter the busy Agra roads to go towards Dholpur / Gwalior.

3. Gwalior byepass is superb but once it's over the WORST nightmare of this route starts. Endless diversions, single road, lots of dust, nicely laid deep potholes and speedbreaker like joints on almost all the bridges. You have to enter Babina town as there is no byepass as of now and it again kills your speed. The situation of the road is more or less same upto Datia. Post which the potholes are less but everything else remains the same upto Jhansi.

4. After crossing Jhansi, you will feel like you are in heaven. Superb tolled roads and you won't feel bad in paying the toll (RS 80 - 90) after almost every 90-100 kms.

5. Once you reach the Lalitpur byepass, you will see a a huge petrol station (Bharat Petroleum) on your LHS. There is also a small restaurant in this but I didn't tasted it's food so no comments on that. Please be aware that number of good petrol pumps on this route (Jhansi - Seoni) are very rare and also the diesel is costlier in MP. Therefore, make use of this petrol pump.

6. You can easily do 100+ on this route but please be aware of cows (in groups of 20+) resting in the middle of the highways. And the bikers coming on the wrong side. If you spot a calf on the road side then you should be dead slow because it can start jumping and running to any direction, at any point of time, depending upon it's mood. You can also spot villagers sitting on the road side during evening and the mornings.

7. When you go around 250 mtrs inside Seoni, there is again a BP pump on the LHS with good quality of fuel. If you want to go towards Balaghat from Seoni then no need to go inside the Seoni town (as I did). There is a byepass (road goes towards LHS) after this BP pump and before the town strarts and the stratight goes to Hyderabad.


Random pics from the drive to show the quality of the highway between Jhansi and Seoni:

Attachment 1378092
Going towards Seoni

Attachment 1378091
Coming from Seoni


Please note that there are very less number of good restaurants and petrol pumps between Jhansi and Seoni. So please plan accordingly.

Please do let me know in case of any queries related to this route.

Cheers!
Irish

Hi Irish,
We had done almost the same route in March this year but we took a turn from Malthone towards Bhopal as we had meetings to participate in Bhopal. Many of the roads that were in bad shape in March are in much better shape now including the stretch around the bridge over Chambal river. We took the YEW, exited at Mathura and took the Agra bypass as mentioned in point no.2. Yes the BP pump after you cross Lalitpur and about 95-100 kms before Sagar is company operated and we filled our tank to the full.

[Irish]

Originally Posted by Krishnan V G

Hi Irish,
Yes the BP pump after you cross Lalitpur and about 95-100 kms before Sagar is company operated and we filled our tank to the full.

The BP pump, I was talking about is situated at the Lalitpur byepass itself. It has a huge area for truck parking as well with restaurants. My credit card bill statement shows it as "M/S Bramha Deo Pandey Lalitpur". The manager at the pump was also very helpful. Here are a couple of shots of this pump:







May be you are talking about some another BP pump.

Cheers!
Irish

[nilanjanray]

Originally Posted by Landkruzer

Havent seen anyone exploring the route via Chindwara. Though few bhpians mentioned that this route is in very good shape, no first hand reports are available. This will be good alternative to NH 7 to avoid the forest section between nagpur and seoni which goes to bad state very often. Looking forward to your report.

I had taken the Narsinghpur - Chhindwara - Nagpur route a couple of years back. I drove in the evening. Road was 2 lane but the surface was good. Guess things will be better now.

Seoni - Nagpur stretch wasn't that bad in Apr, when I went. The MH stretch has potholes, MP stretch was pretty decent.

I will be traveling next week from Bangalore to Noida via Seoni- Agra route, will update.