[condor]

Addon to condition of road between Chitradurga and Hubli:

Chitradurga towards Hubli: diversions are not in good shape, one needs to go slow.
3 diversions between Chitradurga and Davangere
2 diversions between Davangere and Hubli.

Hubli towards Chitradurga:
3 diversions between Hubli and Davangere
3 diversions between Davangere and Chitradurga. One of these is quite long, but road is decent. One can even overtake, provided the other vehicle gives space. I managed to overtake a couple of trucks on these.

[vijaymishra]

Originally Posted by vijaymishra

Travel update - RTPCR
No checks while entering Maharashtra, saw a queue of cars on the opposite side( Karnataka side)

Short update :-
Returned back from Mumbai to Bangalore on Thursday.
A long queue while entering Karnataka for RTPCR check- Video here -

https://youtube.com/watch?v=w0KTVnLboMc?feature=share

Encountered an unpleasant episode, I was asked by one of the guy who was managing the queue to proceed after he checked reports of all the passengers in the car. I was stopped at the counter 200 meters away and was told to circle back and join the queue again as per them I jumped the queue. The officer at the counter was rude which irked me, I still managed to keep calm and explained him my part.
Learning - stick to the queue and provide your details at the counter at your turn.

[chhotagujju]

Can anyone who recently travelled confirm if RT-PCR test report is also required for a 3 year old while crossing Maharashtra - Karnataka Border.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by chhotagujju

Can anyone who recently travelled confirm if RT-PCR test report is also required for a 3 year old while crossing Maharashtra - Karnataka Border.

Not required for a 3 year old toddler. You can travel without one.

[CANPUSH]

While traveling from Maharashtra to Karnataka, Do the accept final vaccination certificate (Both doses) or RT-PCR is mandatory?

Can you show RT-PCR report received by email on the phone or you need hard copy?

How much time it takes to pass the point around 11 am?

Thanks,

[alokn87]

Originally Posted by CANPUSH

While traveling from Maharashtra to Karnataka, Do the accept final vaccination certificate (Both doses) or RT-PCR is mandatory?

Can you show RT-PCR report received by email on the phone or you need hard copy?

How much time it takes to pass the point around 11 am?

RTPCR is mandatory even if you are fully vaccinated.Email/soft copy is accepted.Depending on the day of the week it will take you around 30 mins to pass the point at 11am simply because of the long line of cars.

This is the current situation.Rules keep changing depending on the mood of local officials.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by CANPUSH

While traveling from Maharashtra to Karnataka

Going by your other query. You may alternatively drive through TS-AP-TN.

[gulerianeeraj]

Travelled from Pune to Bangalore and Back on 20th and 23rd Aug respectively. Updates and observations with respect to route

1. Pune to Bangalore : Started at 1100hrs from Viman Nagar. Crossed Pune City by 1200hrs and reached bangalore by 0130hrs 21 Aug. Total Journey time 14 Hrs 30 Mins

2. Bangalore to Pune : Started at 0700hrs from Hennur and reached Pune (Aundh) by 1900hrs. Total Journey time 12Hrs

3. Route Taken : Pune - Satara - Karad - Kolhapur - Belgaum - Hubballi- Davanagere - Chitradurga - Tumkur - Bangalore

4. Road Conditions :
a. Pune to Satara - Six Lane. Condition is pretty average. Potholes and lots of patching work has rendered this road unable to exploit its full potential.
b. Satara to Kolhapur - Four lane road. Good Condition. High traffic in peak hours specially erratic truck and two wheeler traffic.
c. Kolhapur to Belgaum - Four lane/six lane at certain locations. Conditions are pretty good. Mostly highway traffic and well mannered driving customs.
d. Belgaum to Hubbali - Six Lane. Amazing condition of road.
e. Hubbali bypass - Two lane with heavy truck traffic. Road condition is just ok.
f. Hubbali to Davanagere - Six Lane fully developed road in pristine condition. Mostly highway dwellers on road hence well mannered highway etiquettes.
g. Davanagere to Chitradurga - Six laned road in pristine condition. There are a lot of diversions due to ongoing flyover work on road which will cause delay in your journey. The road conditions in these diversions is pretty bad hence you’re advices to drive slowly. Total of 10 diversion inbetween this stretch.
h. Chitradurga to Tumkur - Again Six laned and in very good condition. You can exploit the full capabilities of your vehicle on this stretch.
j. Tumkur to Bangalore : Four lane and heavy truck traffic in both day and night

5. Best time to Start : start very early between 0400-0500 to dodge traffic or start by 1000-1100hrs for the same reason since both the cities have bad traffic conditions. Though leaving late is not recommended if you’re not very well versed and confident with night driving on highways.

6. COVID report requirement : Required when you enter Karnatak from Maharashtra. No requirements in return journey. The report can be 72hrs to 96hrs old. If you’re fully vaccinated you need not to have a report. However fully vaccinated certificate is required.

7. Random Observations :
a. Roads in Karnataka are the best I’ve ever seen.
b. After COVID relaxation lots of restaurants have reopened on highways so no issues of searching for a good eating joint.
c. Holding your pee during long drives help you stay awake.
d. Keep yourself well hydrated since this will force you to take compulsory pee breaks after every 1.5 - 2 hrs. Don’t drive for more than 2 hrs at a stretch since these highways are so good you’ll have a tendency to fall asleep. The break duration can be as low as two minutes but it’ll help in changing your environment hence an overall safer driving experience.
c. Don’t try and race on the highway. It is not at all safe. Enjoy the drive.
d. Whenever there is a change in highway (two lane/four lane/six lane/city/ secluded stretches) for at least 4/5 kms judge how fast the traffic moves and accordingly set your speed limit.
e. During night driving find another car moving ahead of you and follow it. Ensure that the driver is not a rash driver (you’ll come to know after observing his driving for a couple of kms). Have safe distance between both cars. This really helps you to increase speeds and cover distance in a faster way. I tried it and it worked like charm.
f. Have a fast tag if you still don’t have one.
j. Mask up during your trip. There are cops along the route and will pop up when you’ve expected them the least. Though Karnataka is still laid back in this aspect. Maharashtra is pretty strict.

Happy and safe driving

[Vyadh]

Am planning on Bangalore - Nashik trip in the next week.
Have gone through many posts on this forum and got good pointers.
I am doing such a long drive for the first time, last long drive was couple of years back was Bangalore to Pondicherry. So some pointers from experts would be very helpful.
Am planning to do a night halt at Belgaum. Traveling as a family with an 11year old kid. Any recommendations on the hotels in Belgaum during this Pandemic would be very useful.

Thanks in advance!

[alokn87]

Originally Posted by Vyadh

Am planning to do a night halt at Belgaum.

Hello Vyadh, You can stay at Fairfield Mariott at belgaum.Its right on the highway so you dont need to enter the city at all.Splendid breakfast spread is another plus point

[CANPUSH]

Traveling from Chitradurga to Bangalore.

Yesterday did Pune - Chitradurga. Roads are generally good. Newly done Hubli - Chitradurga stretch is excellent but at few places flyovers are being built. Diversions are not in very good shape.

What are good places for breakfast?
What are good bunks to refuel?

[chhotagujju]

I am planning to travel from Bangalore to Pune tomorrow. Hope everything is ok along the route. Anyone who recently travelled, please let me know if any major hurdles or road blocks along the way due to rains or any other reason.

[gulerianeeraj]

Originally Posted by chhotagujju

I am planning to travel from Bangalore to Pune tomorrow. Hope everything is ok along the route. Anyone who recently travelled, please let me know if any major hurdles or road blocks along the way due to rains or any other reason.

Route is good all along. Start as early as you can (0400hrs-0500hrs) to beat peak traffic in bangalore as well pune. Roads till Tumkur is four lane but busy. From there till Belgaum is buttery smooth with few diversions. Hubballi bypass is two laned hence speeds reduce on that stretch though condition of road is pretty ok. Roads in Maharashtra are not as good as you’d want them to be but they just manage to do their basic task. For detailed synopsis Read post number #2948 above in the same thread. I’ve explained my observations in detail.
Happy journey

[libranof1987]

Wai to Pune has become an awful misery and nuisance.

- Khambhatki tunnel tarmac has potholes and uneven surfaces
- All the flyovers are in shambles
- Beware especially of the flyover exit just before the Katraj tunnel
- The entire Wai to Pune stretch has big potholes and corroded surface in patches, randomly strewn across the three lanes

It is disgusting that we have to pay toll for this stretch, MH 12/14 cars are exempt though.

[CANPUSH]

We did Pune - Pondicherry and return in car. Just returned yesterday night.

I am posting my Pune - Bangalore and return experience here.

We had night halt at Chitradurga in both directions to break total drive of 1200+ km into two parts.

Road conditions - Pune to Satara is mostly six lane but bad. Satara till Maharashtra border at Kagal road is excellent but four lane and traffic density is high.

In Karnataka till Belgaum it is 4 lane but good road quality and less traffic. They stop you just before Kognoli toll for checking RT-PCR reports but don't really go through it. If you take out paper, without looking at what is on it they let you go. We reached there around noon. It took us less than 3 minutes to pass the point as only 4-5 cars were ahead of us.

Belgaum to Hubli bypass is good six lane road with not much traffic. Hubli bypass is two lane and if you get stuck behind a slow moving truck it takes a while. I think it is 22 km section.

After Hubli bypass it is six lane till Chitradurga, four lane for crossing Chitradurga (A six lane bypass is under construction). After Chitradurga again it is six lane till Tumkur. Tumkur Bangalore section is four lane.

Between Hubli and Tumkur there are 4 patches where diversions are in place for road flyover construction. Of these on first diversion road is good but rest are very bad. Other than these diversions road between Hubli and Tumkur is new, excellent and with sparse traffic. Some sections have speed permitted till 100 kmph but many cars are seen travelling at much higher speed.

On return, only two diversions, both in bad condition. Rest part excellent as narrated above.

We took NICE road to bypass Bangalore. Entry from Tumkur side is well located and demarcated but entry from Hosur road is confusing with no proper signage showing entry.

Eateries - After crossing into Karnataka, with density of traffic number of eateries also reduce. particularly travelling towards Bangalore with one of two near Chitradurga, no decent eateries on highway on left hand side. On return there are one or two between Bangalore and Tumkur and one or two near Davangere on left hand side till Hubli. After Hubli bypass you can find them more at regular interval till Belgaum.

It took us little more than 10 hours actual driving time from Pune till NICE road.

In actual, We left Pune around 7.15 in the morning and reached Chitradurga at 6 pm. On the way - One fueling stop, One breakfast, Two tea stops and long lunch break at Sankam at Belgaum.
Next day - left Chitradurga at 7 am had fuel stop, breakfast stop at Tumkur and reached NICE road junction at 9.30 After taking NICE bypass reached Hosur around 10.45.