[sriturl]

Originally Posted by NPV

Received another SMS yesterday, this time for Karjeevanahalli Toll Plaza, Rs.75 each for onward and return journeys (different days, 3 days apart).

Except the two tolls in KA before entering MH, all other places fastag was accepted, except for the fact that the experiences are different - automated to hand held scanner.

Originally Posted by JMaruru

How to get this FasTag access/account and how does this work in toll booths?

Please refer to this - https://www.icicibank.com/Personal-B...tag/index.page
You can get it at POS locations, or send SMS to the number given in that page. A ICICI person came to my place and collected documents, and delivered in a week's time.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by JMaruru

How to get this FasTag access/account and how does this work in toll booths?

As sriturl has mentioned above, the details are there in the ICICI FasTag site. Also check out the FasTag thread by mpksuhas on Team-BHP for details on how to your tag.

Thread link - http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/street...ing-using.html

[sriturl]

Originally Posted by shaikhmimran

Hello,

Has anyone used the Fast Tag Toll collection system on the Bangalore-Pune
highway ? Is it active ? Please give your feedback. Thank you!

Except for two tolls in KA before MH border, all other places it works. Definitely time saver as well up to Tumkur considering the queues.
I have seen trucks as well using fastag now. I guess most VRL trucks are getting it.
Of course, Hubli-Dharwad not being NHAI toll, its not considered.

[LonelyPlanet]

This Saturday, I drove towards Pune and there was complete mayhem on the toll booths as early as 7 am due to long weekend. None of the FastTag were behaving as automatic lanes. All were manually operated due to excess load on the roads.
The purpose of the FastTag gets lost in situations when it is required the most.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by LonelyPlanet

The purpose of the FastTag gets lost in situations when it is required the most.

Unfortunately, on holidays and weekends when traffic increases, most toll plazas convert the dedicated FasTag lane into a regular one since they feel a dedicated lane for FasTag is an overkill given the volumes currently.

However, I found the Jadcherla toll near Hyderabad quite good - it allows all vehicles in the FasTag lane and those with FasTag clear quickly as the moment one reaches the booth, the attendant has received the clearance from the sensors and if I remember correctly, even the display shows the vehicle number along with a Thank You message

[vivek95]

Originally Posted by NPV

Received another SMS yesterday, this time for Karjeevanahalli Toll Plaza, Rs.75 each for onward and return journeys (different days, 3 days apart).

Thanks for updating the list of Fastag operational tolls on NH4. Did you manually pay at Kini and Taswade tolls ( Kolhapur--Satara stretch ) ?? Both of them were operational for more than an year.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by vivek95

Did you manually pay at Kini and Taswade tolls ( Kolhapur--Satara stretch ) ?? Both of them were operational for more than an year.

Yes, paid cash at these tolls. I'm not really sure now (don't remember) if that was because I did not see a dedicated FasTag lane/signage or if there were too many vehicles in those lanes.

[Shanmd]

Hi.
Any latest updates on the Bombay-Banglore post-rains road conditions?
Thanks.

[vivek95]

Originally Posted by Shanmd

Hi.
Any latest updates on the Bombay-Banglore post-rains road conditions?
Thanks.

All good between Bombay and Belgaum with of course it being status quo for Pune-Satara section. Mumbai-Pune-Belgaum stretch as usual has received the highest rains on NH4, not much beyond. I am not so sure of Belgaum--Bangalore stretch but it should be good.

Roads in Bombay have gone too bad at some places especially SPTPL - Turbhe junction flyover and Uran phata flyover.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by vivek95

I am not so sure of Belgaum--Bangalore stretch but it should be good.

Continues to be good Vivek! No such irritants on this fast corridor except undulated sections from Hubli till Harihar in bits and pieces.

Roads in Bombay have gone too bad at some places especially SPTPL - Turbhe junction flyover and Uran phata flyover.

And that really worries me. I have plans to drive to GJ in coming weeks/Month and when I cross Bombay this stretch will be the one to pass by till Turbhe.

[vivek95]

Originally Posted by paragsachania

And that really worries me. I have plans to drive to GJ in coming weeks/Month and when I cross Bombay this stretch will be the one to pass by till Turbhe.

Parag, not much to worry. Those really bad sectors are only in some stretches but most of the SPTPL is I can say generally decent to good. I highlighted that because the bad sectors cause traffic backlogs and long traffic snarls,especially during the peak hours . It gets really horrible in the evenings. The particular stretch right below Turbhe flyover which you will have to pass through heading towards Airoli is also ladden with craters. Then further on there is some underpass work going on near Ghansoli, on the road towards Thane with one or two diversions which also causes slowdown of traffic. But overall, the route that you would take to cross Bombay to get onto GJ highway i.e SPTPL- Airoli bridge-Mulund-EEH-Ghodbunder road is good enough. I don't have latest updates on Vasai creek bridge though.

[rohanak1]

I start my trip of Hubli, Kolhapur and Sangli today. Hoping for a great drive
Are there any concerns for Karnataka registration cars once I cross the border?

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by rohanak1

I start my trip of Hubli, Kolhapur and Sangli today. Hoping for a great drive
Are there any concerns for Karnataka registration cars once I cross the border?

None at all. Enjoy your drive. Just ensure to have all your documents handy (preferably original) - Insurance, Registration Certificate, Pollution check Certificate, Driving licence.

Remain belted all the times - Even at the toll booths. Needless to say, for your own safety too. Most of the times cops are waiting right after the booth.

In all these years I was stopped only once soon after entering MH only due to assembly elections and related checking as I was driving all alone.

[vivek95]

Khambatki ghat ( Pune -- Satara ) in its present avatar

[rohanak1]

Completed a wonderful trip of Kolhapur and Sangli by road. The entire stretch from Bangalore to Kolhapur is fantastic to drive on. The best stretches are Tumkur-Chitradurga and Dharwad-Kolhapur. Specially loved the Dharwad-Kolhapur stretch. Brilliant tarmac and pleasant views. The 2-lane Hubli-Dharwad is also very good (can easily do 90-100kmph) but toll at 61/- is on the higher side. Bangalore-Tumkur is bogged down by traffic but 60-80kmph is achievable. The Bangalore-Tumkur and Chitradurga-Hubli stretches are good but have lots of dips and is bumpy.

Time taken:
Goraguntepalya signal, Bangalore - Clarks Inn, Hubli - 6hr (including 1hr for food+fuel)

Clarks Inn, Hubli - Sayaji Hotel, Kolhapur - 2hr45min (includes 15min break for fuel)

Sayaji Hotel, Kolhapur - Sangli - 1hr (no stops)

On return:

Sangli - Clarks Inn, Hubli - 4hr 30min (includes 45min break for food+fuel)

Clarks Inn, Hubli - Hoodi - 6hr 30min (includes 1 hour for food). I entered bangalore at 3:30pm (so about 4hr 30min from Hubli till entry to Bangalore)

Kolhapur - Sangli road is good in parts (4-laned). When passing through villages it suddenly becomes 2-lane and then goes back to being 4-laned. The road is quite well made with high beam cutters on the median. The entire stretch is not 4-laned. I don't exactly remember where it ends though.

All in all, found NH4 to be the best highway in India I have driven on. The BLR-HYD is another good highway but this is even better.