[ampere]

Originally Posted by vignesh207

The Panruti-Vadalur road is pathetic, the entire strech, except for first 10-15 kms and last 30kms near Kumbakonam, is fully in bad shape with under construction roads, potholes and slush in rainy days.

This route route has been a perennial enigma. Almost a decade has come and gone but nothing changes on this route. I really dont know when it would see the light of the day. Might not be a bad idea to drive all the way to Ariyalur and go to Kumbakonam via Thirivaiyuru/Swamimalai.

[vignesh207]

Originally Posted by ampere

This route route has been a perennial enigma. Almost a decade has come and gone but nothing changes on this route. I really dont when it would see the light of the day. Might not be a bad idea to drive all the way to Ariyalur and go to Kumbakonam via Thirivaiyuru/Swamimalai.

Very true, the road has some amazing straight streches, if the road is completed to it's full quality, it might look like a huge runway even, but close to 10 years now but still no sign of things getting better.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by vignesh207

Simple one word review, avoid this route at any cost. The Ulundurpet-Virdhachalam-Sethiathope-Kumbakonam might be a better option.

Yes, please refer to Bangalore-Kumbakonam thread too.

In current state, Ulundurpet-Vridhachalam-Sethiathoppu-Kumbakonam is best option, only that we have to navigate inside Vridhachalam town. Alternate is to go via Ulundurput-Veppu-Vridhachalam bypass-Sethiathoppu-KUmbakonam, but that's little longer with good roads.

I mostly cover the Ulundurput-Mangalam bypass-Vridhachalam in night, so not a major issue. Even in day times, its manageable except for peak hours.

-Ravi

[vignesh207]

Originally Posted by ravib

Ulundurpet-Vridhachalam-Sethiathoppu-Kumbakonam is best option, only that we have to navigate inside Vridhachalam town.

Yes, took this route on return journey from Kumbakonam today. The first 60kms from Kumbakonam to Sethiathoppu was the usual affair, excellent roads for 2-3 kms, then construction work for 2-3kms with literally no road and just slush at places. Add to this a 15 minute wait at Anaikarai dam crossing. This took a solid 2 hours to cover.

Then from there to Virudachalam, the road was excellent state road, clean tarmac and was comfortably able to cruise at 80kmph. A short stretch within Virudachalam town, then Mangalampettai bypass and then Ulundurpet. This stretch was ~55kms and took just 1 hour!

[ravib]

Originally Posted by vignesh207

Yes, took this route on return journey from Kumbakonam today. The first 60kms from Kumbakonam to Sethiathoppu was the usual affair, excellent roads for 2-3 kms, then construction work for 2-3kms with literally no road and just slush at places. Add to this a 15 minute wait at Anaikarai dam crossing. This took a solid 2 hours to cover.

As ampere says, Anaikarai bridge is a hit or miss. If you are lucky, you will have no wait or negligible time , depending on your luck which side traffic is allowed.

Regarding no roads section you mention, due to heavy rains in Delta stricts , thanks to NE monsoon, we can expect more roads to deteriorate for next 2 months atleast till January. But no other choice and can't help it.

We have to go with best available among the worst!

-Ravi

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by vignesh207

The first 60kms from Kumbakonam to Sethiathoppu was the usual affair,...This took a solid 2 hours to cover.

Then from there to Virudachalam, This stretch was ~55kms and took just 1 hour!

For all this, doesn't Perambalur-Ariyalur-Thiruvaiyaru-Kumbakonam make sense?

I remember from our Swamimalai trip, it took 2 hours from Sengurichi to Swamimalai.

Barring the Thiruvaiyaru-Kumbakonam bypass stretch, roads till Thiruvaiyaru were a beauty.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by narayans80

For all this, doesn't Perambalur-Ariyalur-Thiruvaiyaru-Kumbakonam make sense?

I remember from our Swamimalai trip, it took 2 hours from Sengurichi to Swamimalai.

Barring the Thiruvaiyaru-Kumbakonam bypass stretch, roads till Thiruvaiyaru were a beauty.

No Narayan. Upto Ariyalur roads are good and can make up good speed, but post that, all the way from Ariyalur-Thiruvaiyaru-Swamimalai-Kumbakonam though the roads are good, average speed is low due to too many villages and curvy roads which are Delta districts specialty built by Cholas.

So from a time and decent/average speed perspective, better to stick to Sethiathoppur route, despite some short wait in Anaikarai.

-Ravi

[Prado]

I recently completed these two trips.
1. Chennai - Chidambaram (mid Oct 2023)
2. Chennai - Gaingaikonda Cholapuram - Thanjavur - Chettinad - Chennai (end Oct 2023)

So, I can give some updates on some stretches on these routes.

1. Chennai - Chidambaram
I took the route via Tindivanam - Pondicherry - Cuddalore - Chidambaram. Till Pondicherry, it was good except for some patchwork/minor potholes till Tindivanam. After Pondicherry, especially after Cuddalore, the roads are bad - all are single lane, traffic, a lot of road widening work going on and almost all the diversions are in bad shape, all the way till a few kilometers before Chidambaram. Hectic to drive and also could give motion sickness to vulnerable people.

2. Chennai - Gangaikonda Cholapuram - Thanjavur
Google maps suggested the Vikravandi - Panrutti route, but seeing the updates here, I chose the Ulundurpet - Virudhachalam route. The route was Chennai - Ulundurpet - Virudhachalam - Sethiathoppu - Meensurutty - Gangaikonda Cholapuram. The only road construction diversions I saw were before Ulundurpet, at one or two places, and they were also not too bad. After turning off from Ulundurpet, the road becomes a wide single lane, smooth tarmac, very little traffic (depends on the time and day I suppose). I could maintain good speeds all the way till Gangaikonda Cholapuram. Only a couple of town stretches were there around Virudhachalam with some traffic and narrow sections. Note: Watch out for stray dogs and cattle, but visibility is very good during the daytime. Dogs are usually alert animals as against the indifferent cattle, but the dogs in this part of TN seemed less alert, and I had to honk to get their attention and warn (noticed this in Thanjavur and Chettinad too) - not sure if it is because of their seemingly less exposure to traffic and people.

Chidambaram is around 20 km from Sethiathoppu. I decided next time this will be the route for Chennai - Chidambaram. A quick check on google maps showed that both routes (this and via Cuddalore) take almost the same time despite this being almost 43 km more - translates to average speed of 48 kmph vs 60 kmph. I think this is a proof to the road condition.

[pypkmsrikanth]

Had to make a trip to Thiruvidaimaruthur during the weekend, onward took the Chennai-Tindivanam-Pondy-Cuddalore-Vadalur-Sethiathoppu-Anakarai-Thiruvidaimaruthur route, except for crossing Pondy and Cuddalore there was no issues, Pondicherry to Cuddalore traffic is a killer in this route.

Return consciously took the Anaikarai-Gangaikondacholapuram-Jayamkondam-Andimadam-Vridhachalam-Ulundurpet route to check the status and progress of the road construction between Jayamkondam and Karuveppilankurichi. Road work seems to be progressing briskly with many stretches having at least one lane of newly laid roads. May be in a couple of months time most of the stretch may have one lane atleast of newly laid roads. Some stretches are very bad due to road construction. Took me two and a half hours between Thiruvidaimaruthur and Ulundurpet BPCL with possibly about 7 to 10 minutes lost at Anaikarai.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by pypkmsrikanth

Had to make a trip to Thiruvidaimaruthur during the weekend, onward took the Chennai-Tindivanam-Pondy-Cuddalore-Vadalur-Sethiathoppu-Anakarai-Thiruvidaimaruthur route, except for crossing Pondy and Cuddalore there was no issues, Pondicherry to Cuddalore traffic is a killer in this route.

May be a working option would be : Anakarai-Sethiyarthope-Vridhachalam bypass. - Veppur - Ulundurpet - Chennai. Is it worth the roundabout or OK to brave the Cuddalore-Pondicherry traffic?
The traffic on GST also seems so bad. There does not seem any option to beat Chengalpet-Chennai last mile blues.

[pypkmsrikanth]

Originally Posted by ampere

May be a working option would be : Anakarai-Sethiyarthope-Vridhachalam bypass. - Veppur - Ulundurpet - Chennai.

But the traffic on GST seems so bad, there does not seem any option to beat Chengalpet-Chennai last mile blues.

Not just Chengalpattu - Chennai but the stretch from Tindivanam itself is a stressful drive. Yesterday traffic was not that bad, took me 3 hours and 45 minutes from Ulundurpet to Anna Nagar with a dinner break. I did not lose much time in Vridachalam town, may be due to Sunday, but the Vridachalam - Ulundurpet road via Mangalampettai is one of the last remaining lovely single carriage way roads in this part of TN. I am not sure if the Veppur detour may save much of time though it could save a lot of strain. By around April the Andimadam - Jayamkondam - Gangaikondacholapuram route may be a viable option I feel. There might be some deviations still where bridge work is happening but overall the pace of work seems to be very brisk.

Incidentally the flyover at the southern end of Villupuram bypass is ready and vehicles are using though the approach is still not completely done and will be ready completely may be in a week's time.

Took me roughly One hour and twenty minutes from Jipmer to Kurinchipadi on Saturday morning. It is slow progress but may be clubbed with ECR possibly a good option for South Chennai folks to beat the GST road driving stress

[ampere]

Originally Posted by pypkmsrikanth

Not just Chengalpattu - Chennai but the stretch from Tindivanam itself is a stressful drive. Yesterday traffic was not that bad, took me 3 hours and 45 minutes from Ulundurpet to Anna Nagar with a dinner break. I did not lose much time in Vridachalam town, may be due to Sunday, but the Vridachalam - Ulundurpet road via Mangalampettai is one of the last remaining lovely single carriage way roads in this part of TN.

Let's hope the Jayamkondam-Vridhachalam section gets fixed soon and the bridge on Kollidam comes up faster as well.

Also how has the 4-lane ECR evolved from Pondicherry? We heard traffic horror stories when it was a 2-Lane. How is it these days? Is it any better to GST ? (I really doubt that though). I dont see members writing much about the ECR these days. I also assume there are two 4-lanes from Mahabalipuram to Chennai. Then how come traffic does not improve?

[ravib]

Originally Posted by ampere

May be a working option would be : Anakarai-Sethiyarthope-Vridhachalam bypass. - Veppur - Ulundurpet - Chennai. Is it worth the roundabout or OK to brave the Cuddalore-Pondicherry traffic?
The traffic on GST also seems so bad. There does not seem any option to beat Chengalpet-Chennai last mile blues.

Ampere,

Given that Vridhachalam to Mangalampettai bypass to Ulundurpet is very good, there is no need to take detour via Veppur to join N45 GST road and drive towards Ulundurpet. The time to cross Vridhachalam will be much lesser than taking the detour for sure.

Many thanks to @pypkmsrikanth for recent updates. I will be driving to Kumbakonam during christmas holidays, so its clear i will continue to stick to go via Sethiathoppu and skip Jayankondam route till summer.

-Ravi

[ampere]

Originally Posted by ravib

Given that Vridhachalam to Mangalampettai bypass to Ulundurpet is very good, there is no need to take detour via Veppur to join N45 GST road and drive towards Ulundurpet. The time to cross Vridhachalam will be much lesser than taking the detour for sure.

Many thanks to @pypkmsrikanth for recent updates. I will be driving to Kumbakonam during christmas holidays, so its clear i will continue to stick to go via Sethiathoppu and skip Jayankondam route till summer.

Thanks Ravi, Srikanth. The Mangalampettai update seems nice a like change to go forward.

How about the ECR road to Cuddalore. I still see despite a 4-lane on ECR and also a jam-packed GST, people still prefer GST. The traffic between Chennai and Chengalpattu does not deter them from opting for this section still.

[pypkmsrikanth]

Originally Posted by ampere

Thanks Ravi, Srikanth. The Mangalampettai update seems nice a like change to go forward.

How about the ECR road to Cuddalore. I still see despite a 4-lane on ECR and also a jam-packed GST, people still prefer GST. The traffic between Chennai and Chengalpattu does not deter them from opting for this section still.

The ECR is a slow ride until get you reach Kanathur. You lose a lot of time in city traffic. OMR is a strict no with the metro work happening now. It has been a while since I travelled on ECR between Mahabalipuram and Pondicherry so not sure of the latest conditions. The biggest drawback as I see is crossing Pondy and Cuddalore. Particularly the Pondy - Cuddalore stretch is a serious pain any time between 7 AM and 9 PM