[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by suniladhiya

Planning a Pune-Vadodara trip towards the end of March, so can those who have travelled recently and especially our travel guru Dr.H.V.Kumar give latest information on the following:

(a) When I travelled the same route around this time last year, there were a couple of under construction flyovers in the Thane-Ghodbunder section. Whether these are now complete and whether we can use them to save travel time.

2 are complete, but the major one still causes lots of traffic jams in the evening peak hours.

(b) Similarly, there were several under construction flyovers with attendant diversions along with six laning work in progress in the Ghodbunder-Surat section - whether all this is now in place and hence travel time reduced ?

All done. Now, Ghodbunder-Vapi is a 2-hour run for many, and therefrom to Surat another 1.5-2 hours

(c) Whether Golden Bridge continues to be the route of choice for crossing Ankleshwar-Bharuch or by the NH8 Bypass Bridge is functional in both directions?

Unfortunately, yes. Golden Bridge is still to be taken to avoid the jams on the NH8 bypass between Ankleshwar & Bharuch.

[suniladhiya]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

2 are complete, but the major one still causes lots of traffic jams in the evening peak hours.

@ HVK Sir, Thanks for your prompt response. Will the one pending flyover in Thane also result in traffic jams in the morning hours as I would be hitting Thane around 10 a.m. Is this then still the best way to reach Ghodbunder from Pune or would you suggest any alternatives?

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by suniladhiya

@ HVK Sir, Thanks for your prompt response. Will the one pending flyover in Thane also result in traffic jams in the morning hours as I would be hitting Thane around 10 a.m. Is this then still the best way to reach Ghodbunder from Pune or would you suggest any alternatives?

No, stick to this route, Yes, the Kapurbawdi Junction - as it is called - faces congestion at 10 am, but nothing to be pertubned about

[santoshr]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Unfortunately, yes. Golden Bridge is still to be taken to avoid the jams on the NH8 bypass between Ankleshwar & Bharuch.

Hi, I will be doing Pune- A'bad starting tommorow morning. I had a quick question about Ankleshwar & Bharuch.

I know the left which goes into A'war, however I am not sure how to get back on NH8 after Bharuch.

Is this correct :

- Left for A'war
- Cross old Golden gate bridge
- Pass by Bharuch station on your left
- Keep going straight.
- Turn right after crossing college on your left
- Keep going straight and that should hit NH8.

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by santoshr

Hi, I will be doing Pune- A'bad starting tommorow morning. I had a quick question about Ankleshwar & Bharuch.

I know the left which goes into A'war, however I am not sure how to get back on NH8 after Bharuch.

Is this correct :

- Left for A'war
- Cross old Golden gate bridge
- Pass by Bharuch station on your left
- Keep going straight.
- Turn right after crossing college on your left
- Keep going straight and that should hit NH8.

Go straight after Bharuch station for 2 kms till you come to a 4-road junction.
Turn right.
Go 3 kms & reach NH8 again

[suniladhiya]

Hi all,

For travel from Pune to Vadodara, I am trying to fix up possible halts for refreshment and bio breaks. Following are the known options from this thread and personal experience:

Ghodbunder Naka: Hotel Fountain
Manor: Silver Miles
Vapi: Mac Donalds

Can guys help to fix options for the following points:

(a) In Pune-Vadodara direction: On Surat Bypass (preferably on LHS)

(b) In Vadodara-Pune direction: (preferably on LHS)
On Surat Bypass
Vapi
Manor
(or any other suitable points)

Thanks in advance

Originally Posted by suniladhiya

For travel from Pune to Vadodara, I am trying to fix up possible halts for refreshment and bio breaks.

At Manor, there are two Vithal Kamats on either side of NH 8, but the second one while going from Mumbai is located on the RHS below the grade separator.

[santoshr]

(a) In Pune-Vadodara direction: On Surat Bypass (preferably on LHS) :

Cross over Surat drive for around an hour. Cross over A'war and Bharuch, say about 10-15 minutes after Bharuch there's "Honest". This has a Petrol bunk, good toilets, Dominoes, CCD, and also a standard normal restaurant.

This will come on your LHS after passing Bharuch and being headed towards Baroda.


(b) In Vadodara-Pune direction: (preferably on LHS)

After Surat you will run into multiple options of "Sugar N Spice", its a chain of hotels in Gujarat and now a days they have multiple places setup on the Highway.
They have more then enough signage and you will not miss them.

[zalaps]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Go straight after Bharuch station for 2 kms till you come to a 4-road junction.
Turn right.
Go 3 kms & reach NH8 again

Had been to Kathiawar last week end. Took Golden Gate Bridge while to journey. While coming back took NH8 bridge. Observation:

To manage traffic on NH8 bridge traffic police are halting vehicles at tollbooth only!!! Although small vehicles were allowed from left most toll booth lane.

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by zalaps

Had been to Kathiawar last week end. Took Golden Gate Bridge while to journey. While coming back took NH8 bridge. Observation:

To manage traffic on NH8 bridge traffic police are halting vehicles at tollbooth only!!! Although small vehicles were allowed from left most toll booth lane.

Surprisingly, on some days, I have heard reports that there are no jams on NH8 bypass both ways! How did the jams look like on the north-side direction?

[zalaps]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Surprisingly, on some days, I have heard reports that there are no jams on NH8 bypass both ways! How did the jams look like on the north-side direction?

HVK Sir,
It was like half a kilometer. Somehow NH8 bridges are becoming traffic free. But for me to north it's still Golden Bridge.

[advaitlele]

I am travelling from Pune to Vadodara on Friday morning. Would start as usual at 4am from home. As usual, would take following route
Pune -> Exp.way -> New Bombay -> Airoli Bridge -> Thane-Ghodbunder Road -> Fountain Hotel -> Manor -> NH-08 -> Vadodara.

Has the road between Thane to Ghodbunder to Manor is good condition? Last year when I drove, if I remember correctly Thane to Ghodbunder was not such a good road.

How is the condition of road / bridge construction near Bharuch? Is it still WIP or finally we can see the bridge and open to traffic?

Thanks in advance for the tips / help.

Originally Posted by advaitlele

Has the road between Thane to Ghodbunder to Manor is good condition?

Toll road in good condition. I drove on this stretch last month.

How is the condition of road / bridge construction near Bharuch? Is it still WIP

WIP. Cars and 2-wheelers are allowed on the old bridge in both the directions. Last month while coming back from Ahmedabad, I took the extreme left lane and could easily cross the Narmada river without any issues.

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by advaitlele

I am travelling from Pune to Vadodara on Friday morning. Would start as usual at 4am from home. As usual, would take following route
Pune -> Exp.way -> New Bombay -> Airoli Bridge -> Thane-Ghodbunder Road -> Fountain Hotel -> Manor -> NH-08 -> Vadodara.

Has the road between Thane to Ghodbunder to Manor is good condition? Last year when I drove, if I remember correctly Thane to Ghodbunder was not such a good road.

How is the condition of road / bridge construction near Bharuch? Is it still WIP or finally we can see the bridge and open to traffic?

Thanks in advance for the tips / help.

Road through New Bombay-Airoli-Thane to Ghodbunder is good, but expect heavy jams due to flyover construction work at Kapubawdi junction in Thane (where the NH3 branches off & Ghodbunder Road starts). Heavy traffic in late evening hours (truck traffic) on Airoli-Thane-Ghodbunder sector).

Avoid NH8 Ankleshwar-Bharuch bypass & stick to the Golden Bridge route through the 2 cities.

[advaitlele]

Thanks for the suggestions.
The Thane-Ghodbunder road was bliss - absolutely no traffic jams.
Started from home in Pune around 5am and reached Manor - Silver Miles resort for breakfast around 8.30am.

The nightmare as usual was near the Sardar Bridge in Ankleshwar. I forgot to take the road in Bharuch city and went on the NH-8 and encountered around 8km long jam. The cops were "helpful" and were asking the small cars to go wrong way all the way on the old Sardar bridge where cars traffic was open both ways. I would have been stuck there for at least 4 hours otherwise.

Pune to Vadodara - home to home distance - 575km. toll - Rs 590. fuel avg - 22.3 kmpl.