[venki.bala]

I made a trip to Mannargudi while onwards took Vridachalam - Sethiyathope - Anaikarai - Mannai. I see one more flyover has opened for traffic in the sethiyathope - anaiakarai stretch and work in full swing on other flyovers. Anaikarai new bridge should be ready in a month or so. Hope the new sethiyathope bypass also gets completed and opened soon. On return journey took Meensurity - Jayamkondam - Vridachalam road. The Jayamkondam - Vridachalam is 95% complete. immediately leaving the jayamkondam town the 4 lane starts and there are road laying works going for 1 km which should be completed in a week or so. after that its a beauty 4 laned road till Karuveppankurichi with very less traffic. after that road remains the old 2 laned till Vridachalam bypass. it saves some kilometers and some time than the sethiyathope route.

More update on Vikravandi - sethiyathope: NHAI has taken decision to scrap the tender for Reliance infra and go for a new BID. Very late decision but very much right which they should have taken 2 years ago. Anyways hope the new contractor finishes the job as per the timeline. everytime i see the new Vilupuram - Chidambaram highway i feel jealous why Kumbakonam gets bad luck eveytime with road development works.

[pypkmsrikanth]

Originally Posted by venki.bala

More update on Vikravandi - sethiyathope: NHAI has taken decision to scrap the tender for Reliance infra and go for a new BID. Very late decision but very much right which they should have taken 2 years ago.

It is almost four years since work came to a complete stop in this stretch. Two years back NHAI confirmed the original contractor "Reliance Infra" abandoned the project but for reasons best known only to them NHAI just sat quiet leaving road users to suffer for so long. https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/iipcache/168919.jpg

[pypkmsrikanth]

Had to make a trip to Kumbakonam for a family function. Work meant could leave only around 5:00 PM from Anna Nagar. Progress up to Tindivanam was as usual slow and painful. Took the Ulundurpet - Vridachalam - Jayamkondam - Meensurutti - Anaikarai - Kumbakonam route. Reached Kumbakonam around 11:30 PM after a brief dinner stop and a 5 minute break at Gangaikonda Cholapuram for some night time photography.

The stretch between Vridachalam and Andimadam was OK to drive even during the night time if one kept the speeds around 70 km/h as at many places the new top layer starts without any tapering so the difference between the two road layers make it very uncomfortable. Of course as mentioned by others there are some culvert / bridge work that is still happening. Almost all of these unfinished sections are less than 50 mts each. The Jayamkondam - Vridachalam lane is much better compared to the onward lane in terms of road conditions. Took me roughly 40 minutes between Vridachalam town and Jayamkondam town.

A lot of diversions still exist between Meensurutti and Kumbakonam but work is happening briskly and flyovers are getting opened regularly. Anaikarai new bridge connectivity may still be a few months away I suppose.

[venki.bala]

I am in my hometown and returning back tomorrow. need to stop over at Nagapattinam. Considering to take new nagai - tanjore highway till needamangalam then take right to kumbakonam and follow the regular route. but want to know the status of nagai - sirkazhi stretch before proceeding. is it worth taking risk through ecr?

[venki.bala]

I took the bait and took the ECR from Nagapattinam all the way to Chennai.

ECR widening work is on full swing between Nagai outskirts till Karaikal border. The ECR remains the old road passing through Karaikal till thirukadaiyur. Passing through Karaikal town is most painful in this stretch. it took nearly 30 mins to cross the town and after crossing the town the old highway remains in good condition till Thirukadaiyur. Then the painful stretch starts till Sirkazhi bypass. The work is in full swing and you get concrete surface completed on one side for 500m to 1 km and then suddenly you will move unmarked diversion to other side. Culverts are work in progress and there are too many. negotiating these is a painful act. All these pain gets over once u reach Sirkazhi bypass from here its a breeze till cuddalore except for small diversion near B.Mutlur where we need to go through the town. cuddalore to Pondy remains the same chaotic as always.

Is it worth taking ECR from Nagai to Sirkazhi? No atleast for another 6 months. Its a strain on Vehicle and the driver. I would recommend the Needamangalam - Nagapattinam road even though the distance is more.

timing wise started from Nagapattinam at 11 am and reached Sirkazhi bypass at 1.15 PM. Hotel clarks inn in Sirkazhi bypass has neat and clean restrooms but restaurant is very slow in service.

[thanixravindran]

Originally Posted by pypkmsrikanth

It is almost four years since work came to a complete stop in this stretch. Two years back NHAI confirmed the original contractor "Reliance Infra" abandoned the project but for reasons best known only to them NHAI just sat quiet leaving road users to suffer for so long. https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/iipcache/168919.jpg

Just read NHAI has floated new tender for this stretch. Road works duration for 2 years and maintenance for 5 years with close to 1000 crore for this 70 Km stretch.

https://x.com/TamilNaduInfra/status/1842667137032389103

[ravib]

Originally Posted by thanixravindran

Just read NHAI has floated new tender for this stretch. Road works duration for 2 years and maintenance for 5 years with close to 1000 crore for this 70 Km stretch.

https://x.com/TamilNaduInfra/status/1842667137032389103

So, at best we can expect the entire stretch to be completed only by 2027 !!
Phew !!

[RGK]

Planning to go to KKM this week.

Is there any update on the completion of the Anaikarai bridge and the Vridhachalam - Jayakondam road?

[ravib]

Originally Posted by RGK

Planning to go to KKM this week.

Is there any update on the completion of the Anaikarai bridge and the Vridhachalam - Jayakondam road?

Vridhachalam bypass to Jayankondam is good to go.
New Anaikarai bridge is not yet open, so still the wait and go - one way traffic in old bridge continues.

-Ravi

[pypkmsrikanth]

Originally Posted by RGK

Planning to go to KKM this week.

Is there any update on the completion of the Anaikarai bridge and the Vridhachalam - Jayakondam road?

Anaikarai bridge will possibly be ready only around Pongal in my opinion. With Northeast Monsoon expected to pick up after Diwali I doubt we will see any major progress until January

[RGK]

Did Chennai - KMU yesterday. As said by Ravib, took Vridhachalam - Jayamkondam - Andimadam - Anaikaarai route. Started at 5.45 AM and reached at 11.15 AM with a short break. Started back at 4.20 PM and reached T Nagar at 10.05 PM.

• The road conditions are good throughout the journey. Ad hoc local traffic in Vriddhacalam and Jayamkondam (due to deepavali) delayed things by 15 - 20 min.
  
  
• The Anaikarai bridge is still under construction, and the policeman (who manages the traffic with walkie talkie) informed that it would take another six months to be completed Experienced only a 5-minute wait time both ways.
  
  
• The newly completed flyovers (on NH 36) are excellent, featuring clear road markings and signs. The flyover at the Mayavaram bypass road intersection is almost finished and will be opened soon (There are two consecutive flyovers).

Unfortunately, there was a fatal accident involving a two-wheeler near Vridhachalam. Just a word of caution - Two wheelers during morning school hours are dangerous due to irresponsible driving in those areas.

@pypkmsrikanth - Our posts were updated at the same time I think . Yes you are right and the delay may vary between 3 to 6 months is what I assume.

[mah45]

Hi all
Thinking of doing a quick trip to Swami malai and back on the same day this weekend
I know it might be crazy returning to Chennai on Sunday, so thinking of doing it on Saturday

Route wise, I believe it would be Navalur - Tiruporur - Chengalpattu - Ulundurpet - Veppur - Vridachalam - Jayamkondam - Cholapuram - Anaikarai - Swami malai ?

Please do guide for anything to watch out for and alternate routes to be considered, thanks

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by mah45

Please do guide for anything to watch out for and alternate routes to be considered, thanks

If you don't mind additional distance, time wise it will be similar. You could do Perambalur-Ariyalur-Thiruvayyaru-Kabisthalam-Swamimalai.

This works because Swamimalai on the west end of Kumbakonam and you don't have to deal with Anaikarai.

[mah45]

Originally Posted by narayans80

If you don't mind additional distance, time wise it will be similar. You could do Perambalur-Ariyalur-Thiruvayyaru-Kabisthalam-Swamimalai.

This works because Swamimalai on the west end of Kumbakonam and you don't have to deal with Anaikarai.

I see it is 50 odd kilometres longer. Is the road condition better than the regular route

I remember going to Thingaloor from Swami malai once and the road conditions were really bad, not sure if it's the same Thiruvaiyaaru route. But this was long back, so not sure now

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by mah45

I remember going to Thingaloor from Swami malai once and the road conditions were really bad, not sure if it's the same Thiruvaiyaaru route. But this was long back, so not sure now

Same road. It was average and doable at 60 kph types. This was roughly 20 kms.

Till Thiruvaiyaru roads were in excellent shape. I remember starting Chromepet at 420 am and reaching Swamimalai at 840 am for breakfast.