Team-BHP - On Bypassing Bangalore

Quote:

Originally Posted by nareshtrao (Post 5945645)

Folks,

I am headed with Family next week towards Chitradurga and beyond next week. Would STRR from Hoskote to Dobbspet be better than using the traditional Tumkur road after navigating the city? My starting point is Sarjapur ring Road.

Asking as I am unable to figure the extra distance vs. the traffic and time saved. Anyone who has a better understanding of this route?

Thanks in advance for the help and guidance.

From Sarjapur you can take Chikka Tirupati route and reach Hoskote directly avoiding other BLR city choke points, and from there it's a straightforward nonstop drive till Dobaspete. I suggest you try that, and it should save some time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nareshtrao (Post 5945645)

F My starting point is Sarjapur ring Road.

Since you mentioned Sarjapur ring road I am assuming this as Outer ring road.

In that case, one option is to go to KR puram, take U turn near hanging bridge. Head to Hoskote and take STRR and take exit at Dodbalapur. It wont save much time as I found out since the distance is almost an additional 50 kms. However, its much peaceful drive.

If its the loop around Sarjapur town that is your starting point is - Would suggest you to take Dommasandra turn and head via old madras road to STRR entry.

The entry to STRR from Chikka Tirupati is the closest one, however reaching there is a waste of time and also, the road from there to Chennai Expressway trumpet is not fully done due to pending railway over bridge construction.

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Originally Posted by procrj (Post 5945698)

Depends on you starting time. If your start time is after 6.30 am, I would definitely take STRR as it will help avoid multiple bottlenecks plus a large part of the traffic between Nelamangala toll - Dabaspete.

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Originally Posted by narayanang76 (Post 5945724)

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Originally Posted by mpksuhas (Post 5945764)

Thanks a lot to all of you for your inputs.

Yes. The start location is Ring Road and your assessment of 50km additional is right. I did the same calculation by adding multiple stops and arrived at 70 kms vs 116 kms from Bellandur.

So if the start time is prior to 6, perhaps the traditional route may also make sense. But for the kick of using this road, maybe I will try it out. Irrespective of the distance, it perhaps will still take the same time.

A Disappointing Experience with the STRR

I traveled from HSR to Chikballapura yesterday. Felt adventurous and took the ORR towards KR Puram, the Bridge towards Hoskote and then the STRR towards Devanahalli.

Given the hullaballoo and continuous mentions by over beloved Minister of Road Transport & Highways, I was expecting a scientifically built, 6 lane expressway but the experience was underwhelming at the very least.

The road surface is definitely smooth, rivalling the BME, but did notice some key, fundamental issues -

1. 100kmph speed limit but the highway for a good chunk is 4 laned rather than 6 lanes. I am not sure as to why were even 4 lanes thought of for such an expressway. Clearly lack of space wasn't an issue. Was the surrounding land so expensive that it could be acquired? Result - Our truckers, who like to race each other at a difference of 2kmph really shone here, causing a huge snakelike formation behind them, honking away. Full on NICE road feels :Frustrati

2. The expressway may be access controlled but that did not stop the 2 wheeled morons to drive down the wrong side of the entry ramp at high speed, at the risk of getting crushed under some massive lorries. Absolutely no regards to self preservation. And obviously, no police presence.

3. The exit points across the expressway were abrupt / immediate. One has to slow right down, take a sharp cut to enter into the service lane and exit towards the surrounding villages. Imagine below image but with just 3 barriers removed for the vehicles to get off. Even the exit to Devanahalli (Bangalore airport exit) was the same. Atrocious and dangerous. Larger vehicles had to almost come to a halt before making an exit.

Given the kind of NH expressways being made in the North (specially around NCR, and in Punjab & Haryana) or even the BME for that matter, I was shocked to see such issues plaguing the STRR. I am inclined to think whether these are deliberate attempts of sabotage or is the state government (does not matter which one) is really that difficult to deal with. Land acquisition has been a major hurdle for as long as I can remember with establishing connectivity across the city.

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Originally Posted by ShreyG (Post 5949379)

I believe land acquisition is/was 100% handled by the State Government, hence this mess. The redeeming feature was that NHAI completed (what was possible) within a decent timeline, but I agree 4 lanes is grossly inadequate for what is forecast to be a heavy traffic ring highway.

Again, they should have acquired enough land for proper cloverleaf interchanges, and that too at all important junctions. For example, the Doddaballapura Road entry/exit itself is missing, and people need to drive on secondary roads to connect to either side of the STRR. Same is with the Bellary Road where everyone needs to take a U-turn!

Silly planning with zero foresight. Will come back to bite in the appropriate place(s) very soon.

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Originally Posted by ampere (Post 5896892)

Last time we said Baglur. But one problem is the unpredictable traffic hold-ups that may happen thanks to multiple flyovers being constructed between Hosur and Krishnagiri.

Hence my suggestion to Shoolagiri to reduce the Hosur-Krishnagiri stretch. But having said, if one does not get stuck its easy on this highway as well.

So that risk is always there. Also the Malur-Berigai-Shoolagiri is a single lane road and good for day time travel. Also these days we seem to see lot of trucks using the Baglur route.

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Originally Posted by rajesh1868 (Post 5898932)

Thanks a lot. Took the Shoolagiri-Malur route and it was a smooth one. Without your warning on the single lane, I might have thought I was on the wrong road and might have turned back. But it was surprisingly easy with only one incoming bus from other side throughout.
I might take the STRR on my return.

Sorry to be bugging from time to time, We will be starting from Omalur around 7-8am. Will not be later than this. Plan is to reach the portion between Devanahalli and Chikballapur for lunch in one of the restaurants in that stretch.
Is it better to take 844 and take Bagalur cross to proceed? in December you had mentioned some concerns on construction. Or should I proceed like last time on Shoolagiri - Malur road?

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Originally Posted by rajesh1868 (Post 5949664)

I would say avoid 844. It's great to get you to Bangalore, but not good for crossing Bangalore today given STRR link to Hosur is missing.

Instead, take Thoppur and come till Krishnagiri. Take road to Kuppam and follow what member @gajadonga said.

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route...ml#post5943196

This is the route he referred: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gv8QCKVCvXAnUkR56

I would still think it would worth taking the extra 35km all the way to V Kote and come back to Sundarpalaya to latch to the Expressway. But given he has driven, he has the best experience to comment on this one.
Route Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/F2TRp3G6cgYNHsWV8

As regards to lunch break Try this place: https://maps.app.goo.gl/wL5VwR2gW178Z5Fi7

It's a like food stop. Has everything from a KFC to a Starbucks.

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Originally Posted by ampere (Post 5949768)

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Originally Posted by narayans80 (Post 5949832)

This is what I would recommend too. Krishnagiri to V-Kota is very good road

There is a Cube stop about 20-30 kms ahead attached to a BPCL COCO, which is a good place too.

Thanks a lot.
We are travelling this weekend. Return will be after 5 weeks or so.

Nandagokula restaurant was our go to place for long. But feeling that the quality and service are coming down these days. Was planning a switch this time.

Does Bigbay have a South Veg option? Have passed by multiple times but I was not aware of a Haldirams here. May try that.

In case we are early here, then we might push forward to Bagepalli. There was a new restaurant near the toll plaza on the other side (Samaras?). Had tried the evening tea/snack once and found it ok.

Cubestop is the place where a Kamath used to be there long back right?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShreyG (Post 5949379)

A Disappointing Experience with the STRR

3. The exit points across the expressway were abrupt / immediate. One has to slow right down, take a sharp cut to enter into the service lane and exit towards the surrounding villages. Imagine below image but with just 3 barriers removed for the vehicles to get off. Even the exit to Devanahalli (Bangalore airport exit) was the same. Atrocious and dangerous. Larger vehicles had to almost come to a halt before making an exit.
Attachment 2742981

Given the kind of NH expressways being made in the North (specially around NCR, and in Punjab & Haryana) or even the BME for that matter, I was shocked to see such issues plaguing the STRR. I am inclined to think whether these are deliberate attempts of sabotage or is the state government (does not matter which one) is really that difficult to deal with. Land acquisition has been a major hurdle for as long as I can remember with establishing connectivity across the city.

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Originally Posted by itwasntme (Post 5949391)

The state govt is to be blamed for the land acquisition but the NHAI also needs a rap on its knuckles for not addressing these concerns. In comparison NICE road which was built close to 20 years ago is comparatively well planned with each exits being properly curved.

Let me give the example of the mysore road exit on NICE. The volume of traffic is insane on weekends that causes a block on 2 lanes of the road including folks going towards tumkur road from electronic city. A direct entry into the expressway could have resolved this issue.

Another place where terrible exits exist is on My Blr highway. A separate lane which merges would have been better and ample space for a vehicle to slow down would be ideal but what we get is a direct exit onto the service road where numerous restaurants have come up.

So what do people wanting a thatte idly do? Park on the service road or the highway shoulder and walk to the restaurant!

The state govt is crawling in executing the Hoskote to Hosur road of STRR, the Hosur road to Dabbaspet is in a cold storage and there is a talk of a Bangalore Business corridor which is another money run for the realtors wanting to clog either side of a supposed freeway with businesses or IT parks.

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Originally Posted by maddy42 (Post 5950769)

Let me give the example of the mysore road exit on NICE. The volume of traffic is insane on weekends that causes a block on 2 lanes of the road including folks going towards tumkur road from electronic city. A direct entry into the expressway could have resolved this issue.

Sorry to disagree but I would not call the entry / exits on the NICE road exactly ideal. The only reason exits seem somewhat planned is because of the toll gates (the most important part of any highway, no compromises here:D)

If you want to enter onto NICE from example, Bannerghatta road towards Mysore road, you need to take a U Turn from the toll gate into the 2/3 lane main carriageway. Hats off to the drivers / riders of Bangalore that these have not resulted in daily disasters. Probably high tolls deter a lot of users who otherwise cause daily mayhem on our BBMP sponsored craters-for-roads.

Exits too, like you mentioned, important ones like Mysore road have only 2 toll gates causing choc-a-blocks during rush hours.

As I said in my earlier post, a lot of the outputs of the government (state / central) does seem like deliberate attempts at sabotage. Its not that the NHAI doesn't know how to build good expressways. Just look at the GT road from Delhi towards Punjab or the Yamuna expressway.

Makes me think about the two working in tandem to ensure 2 maximums : inconvenience & taxes.

Why should spending money automatically translate to convenience and a hassle free experience? :coldsweat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShreyG (Post 5949379)

A Disappointing Experience with the STRR

Completely agree to your view on STRR. Had mentioned something similar few months back here.

STRR is supposed to be the link between Bangalore - Chennai E way & Bangalore - Pune E way, when ever it gets done. Along with linking Mysore road & Mangalore highway too. With that considered, an ideal ring road would have been similar to the one at Hyderabad (though that was constructed by corporation and not NHAI)

What we got is a half hearted effort. Randomly & dangerous shrinking of 6 lane to 4 lanes at multiple locations, improper entry / exit, lack of service road for large sections of road meaning local traffic merges to the road haphazardly.

Once traffic picks up and layouts spring up around the road, it will be just like ORR.