Traffic and life on the roads in Chennai

ThePunter · 6th July 2012, 09:13

Velachery Main road is getting concrete white topping, and work is on since couple of weeks. Morning commute towards Anna Salai has became nothing short of a pain and for my trip from Pallikaranai to T-Nagar during 9:30 am to 10:30 am times I am taking left before Vijayanagar flyover taking the road along MRTS upcoming line and then taking right to go through Adambakkam (Balaji nagar main road) to join near the fly over before Guindy Suburban Station back side thus avoiding the pile up from Velachery bye pass end till a good portion of Race course road. But again there is mostly a pile up waiting for me around and after Guindy station till Ashok Leyland office. Can't think of another alternate route than this, for now.
Any body else taking this, or finding this route better? Ever since, I am un aware of the mass of pile up in the otherwise regular route through 100 ft Bye pass & Velachery main road.

Blue Thunder · 6th July 2012, 10:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThePunter

... Can't think of another alternate route than this, for now....

You can try out this route...just a 'theoretical' suggestion...maybe longer, but possibility of lesser traffic exists...

Velachery Main Road to Teynampet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India - Google Maps

DWind · 6th July 2012, 11:08

Slight variations from route suggested by Blue Thunder above
1. You would need to take a left after crossing the Thillai Ganga Nagar Subway into MKN road and join GST at the Traffic light. I do not think there is an U turn allowed near Alandur Depot jn.
2. The idea is to enter the Guindy Industrial estate somehow after Kathipara. You can either try right opposite Olympia (includes waiting for Traffic Light) or continue on to Mount Road and take the left at the first available opportunity.
3. Depending on where you want to go in TNagar you can decide to join Mount Road at Saidapet (Bazzar road /Jones road Subway) or continue on to use Arnanganathan Subway.

ThePunter · 6th July 2012, 15:01

As I see, this route will be 2.5 km extra for me. With respect to traffic, I think from the time around you are around MKN road, till Kathipara it could be slow due to Metro construction and all. Thereafter again traffic will be high passing through some real congested narrow lanes once you cross Alandur fly over & Subway (the stretch could be longer). Infact I got to know about and experience Alandur fly over only a few days back and when this route came up it didn't came as a surprise. Thanks for the suggesion folks. I go till near the Residency Hotel/ GN Chetty Road Jn, and so this way I will be joining near Saidapet Bus stand (or aranganathan subway as it is told) and taking Thanickachalam Rd.

supremeBaleno · 6th July 2012, 16:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjcherian

I have begun to hate flyovers that do not have dividers - especially the ones on Usman road and the Chamiers-Cenotaph one. Bikers/autos/cabs overtaking rashly on them with no botheration about their own or other road users safety !

I take the Chamiers-Cenotaph flyover in the morning to work towards Kotturpuram and yes the bikers overtake without any worry for their lives.
But it is so much fun to take the curve just before the flyover gets to level ground on a car - just let the car go aided by gravity without using brakes.

Have seen buses get stuck there though at that curve due to their length and ending up causing jams.

headers · 6th July 2012, 16:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by supremeBaleno

I take the Chamiers-Cenotaph flyover in the morning to work towards Kotturpuram and yes the bikers overtake without any worry for their lives.
But it is so much fun to take the curve just before the flyover gets to level ground on a car - just let the car go aided by gravity without using brakes. :s.

At
What speed biju..anything above 90 is insane..there

esteem_lover · 6th July 2012, 17:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by headers

At
What speed biju..anything above 90 is insane..there

Track speed vikram, don't you know ? Also remember his foot is off the pedal.

supremeBaleno · 6th July 2012, 17:36

Did I not mention gravity ? So legal street speed + some help from gravity.
90 itself would be insane IMO.

Blue Thunder · 6th July 2012, 17:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by supremeBaleno

...But it is so much fun to take the curve just before the flyover gets to level ground on a car...

curves and flyovers...you should try the Kathipara grade separator.

Before we shifted out of Vadapalani, I had the opportunity to drive the OTA-Kathipara-Ekkattuthangal route daily. Whenever I was returning home late from office, it used to be such a pleasure driving on the (near-empty) curving Kathipara flyover, and down straight (home-stretch!) to cross Olympia Tech-park. I am not going to mention the speeds

.

supremeBaleno · 6th July 2012, 17:50

@BT, I take that route (OMR-OTA-Kathipara-Ekkattuthangal) on my return home and more than the flyover, the interesting part is the wide curve before you get on the flyover.
Basically just where the metro-work barricade starting at OTA ends and road widens up till the flyover. Sweet curve. Can be used to test handling of cars on the curve to know if it really "hugs the road" / "like on rails" etc.

Gansan · 6th July 2012, 17:55

^^I like this curve, and the loop on the flyover as one exits towards Guindy, which follows almost immediately!

Blue Thunder · 6th July 2012, 17:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by supremeBaleno

...the interesting part is the wide curve before you get on the flyover.
Basically just where the metro-work barricade starting at OTA ends and road widens up till the flyover. Sweet curve. Can be used to test handling of cars on the curve to know if it really "hugs the road" / "like on rails" etc.

Oh, yes, very true...how did I miss mentioning that

.

That curve usually presents some interesting overtaking opportunities as well, since most of the vehicles will be slowing down.

That curve will make one feel the centrifugal force to the fullest, in a safe way, since it is a wide curve.

supremeBaleno · 6th July 2012, 18:00

Yes, all the folks stick to the centre lane, while you shift to the right-most lane and zoom ahead. And like you said, the force can be felt. Awesome !!!

Basically, the best part of getting to work (and back home) is the drive.

Blue Thunder · 6th July 2012, 18:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by supremeBaleno

...Basically, the best part of getting to work (and back home) is the drive.

Driving back home is more fun than driving to work !

When driving to office, my face probably would be like this

When driving back to home...

.

Mr_Bean · 6th July 2012, 18:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Thunder

Driving back home is more fun than driving to work !

When driving to office, my face probably would be like this

When driving back to home...

.

2 years of driving in Chennai seemed to cause some kind of mental imbalance in me I guess

The very thought of taking the car out made me sick. To be honest it was a nightmare to drive between Annanagar and Velachery

Koyambedu flyover also has a similar curve when driving from the CMBT to Arumbakkam.

I am happy that I don't have to drive through traffic here.

6th July 2012, 09:13	#1156
ThePunter BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: TN-22 / KL-53 Posts: 109 Thanked: 23 Times View My Garage	re: Traffic and life on the roads in Chennai Velachery Main road is getting concrete white topping, and work is on since couple of weeks. Morning commute towards Anna Salai has became nothing short of a pain and for my trip from Pallikaranai to T-Nagar during 9:30 am to 10:30 am times I am taking left before Vijayanagar flyover taking the road along MRTS upcoming line and then taking right to go through Adambakkam (Balaji nagar main road) to join near the fly over before Guindy Suburban Station back side thus avoiding the pile up from Velachery bye pass end till a good portion of Race course road. But again there is mostly a pile up waiting for me around and after Guindy station till Ashok Leyland office. Can't think of another alternate route than this, for now. Any body else taking this, or finding this route better? Ever since, I am un aware of the mass of pile up in the otherwise regular route through 100 ft Bye pass & Velachery main road.
	() Thanks

6th July 2012, 11:08	#1158
DWind BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Singara Chennai Posts: 804 Thanked: 238 Times View My Garage	re: Traffic and life on the roads in Chennai Slight variations from route suggested by Blue Thunder above 1. You would need to take a left after crossing the Thillai Ganga Nagar Subway into MKN road and join GST at the Traffic light. I do not think there is an U turn allowed near Alandur Depot jn. 2. The idea is to enter the Guindy Industrial estate somehow after Kathipara. You can either try right opposite Olympia (includes waiting for Traffic Light) or continue on to Mount Road and take the left at the first available opportunity. 3. Depending on where you want to go in TNagar you can decide to join Mount Road at Saidapet (Bazzar road /Jones road Subway) or continue on to use Arnanganathan Subway.
	(1) Thanks

6th July 2012, 15:01	#1159
ThePunter BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: TN-22 / KL-53 Posts: 109 Thanked: 23 Times View My Garage	As I see, this route will be 2.5 km extra for me. With respect to traffic, I think from the time around you are around MKN road, till Kathipara it could be slow due to Metro construction and all. Thereafter again traffic will be high passing through some real congested narrow lanes once you cross Alandur fly over & Subway (the stretch could be longer). Infact I got to know about and experience Alandur fly over only a few days back and when this route came up it didn't came as a surprise. Thanks for the suggesion folks. I go till near the Residency Hotel/ GN Chetty Road Jn, and so this way I will be joining near Saidapet Bus stand (or aranganathan subway as it is told) and taking Thanickachalam Rd.
	() Thanks

6th July 2012, 17:36	#1163
supremeBaleno Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chennai / Kochi Posts: 5,546 Thanked: 2,699 Times View My Garage	re: Traffic and life on the roads in Chennai Did I not mention gravity ? So legal street speed + some help from gravity. 90 itself would be insane IMO.
	(1) Thanks

6th July 2012, 17:50	#1165
supremeBaleno Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chennai / Kochi Posts: 5,546 Thanked: 2,699 Times View My Garage	re: Traffic and life on the roads in Chennai @BT, I take that route (OMR-OTA-Kathipara-Ekkattuthangal) on my return home and more than the flyover, the interesting part is the wide curve before you get on the flyover. Basically just where the metro-work barricade starting at OTA ends and road widens up till the flyover. Sweet curve. Can be used to test handling of cars on the curve to know if it really "hugs the road" / "like on rails" etc. Last edited by supremeBaleno : 6th July 2012 at 17:57.
	() Thanks

6th July 2012, 17:55	#1166
Gansan Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 4,535 Thanked: 5,561 Times	re: Traffic and life on the roads in Chennai ^^I like this curve, and the loop on the flyover as one exits towards Guindy, which follows almost immediately!
	() Thanks

6th July 2012, 18:00	#1168
supremeBaleno Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chennai / Kochi Posts: 5,546 Thanked: 2,699 Times View My Garage	re: Traffic and life on the roads in Chennai Yes, all the folks stick to the centre lane, while you shift to the right-most lane and zoom ahead. And like you said, the force can be felt. Awesome !!! Basically, the best part of getting to work (and back home) is the drive. Last edited by supremeBaleno : 6th July 2012 at 18:13.
	(1) Thanks