[Rocky_Balboa]

Originally Posted by NPV

^^Since KR Puram is closer for me, wondering if Bangalore-Chittoor would be fine ? Any roadwork in progress between Chittoor-Ranipet ?

Yes the roadwork is (still) in-progress between Chittoor bypass and Ranipet, decent roads in that stretch, though. Be wary of traffic on the same carriage-way in certain stretches.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Sriperumbudur-Oragadam-Vandalur-Mambakkam-Kelambakkam-Sholinganallur would be the most peaceful route even though its tad longer. Except for the right turn at Sriperumbudur, you'll not see traffic anywhere else.

Can you please share the gmaps route link ?

**If it helps, my destination is in VGP Prabhu Nagar, Medavakkam/Perumbakkam.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by NPV

Can you please share the gmaps route link ?

Here you go

Before you ask, yes it is a detour. These are fully divider separated roads until Sholinganallur junction and possibly part of Perumbakkam Road leading to your destination. You'll only see some suburban traffic which is pretty minimal.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Here you go

Before you ask, yes it is a detour. These are fully divider separated roads until Sholinganallur junction and possibly part of Perumbakkam Road leading to your destination. You'll only see some suburban traffic which is pretty minimal.

Thanks so much.

Are there any confusing turns ? Hope the right turn turn before the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial is easy to not miss ?

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by NPV

Are there any confusing turns ?

The Oragadam turn from Sriperumbudur is the only place you need to be careful.
Oragadam to Vandalur turn is marked I think. There is a large overbridge (which is the only one that crosses). You should see quite a few automotive OEMs approaching Oragadam.
Padappai-Vandalur to GST is a T- junction some 4 km after Padappai Shell.
Vandalur-Mambakkam road - Keep below the bridge, the left turn is exactly after Vandalur Zoo.
Mambakkam-Kelambakkam to OMR is again a T junction.
Sholinganallur junction is a major junction. Its probably the biggest traffic light after Navalur toll (the only toll you'll see after Chennasamudram if you have followed the above route).

[mazda4life]

Started from Jayanagar at 3:15 am and reached Nungambakkam at 8:30 am. Lot of traffic near Sriperumbudur, cops at Hosur stopped me for any liquor bottles. None found and was let off

[bong_voyager]

Originally Posted by mazda4life

cops at Hosur stopped me for any liquor bottles

Is this a new thing? have never faced liquor check at KA-TN border before, in both pre-covid and covid era.

[srvm]

Originally Posted by NPV

^^Since KR Puram is closer for me, wondering if Bangalore-Chittoor would be fine ? Any roadwork in progress between Chittoor-Ranipet ?

Originally Posted by Rocky_Balboa

Yes the roadwork is (still) in-progress between Chittoor bypass and Ranipet, decent roads in that stretch, though. Be wary of traffic on the same carriage-way in certain stretches.

I have done the Chittoor route 4-5 times in the last 2 months.
Agree with Rocky_Balboa. Chittoor route is doable in daytime. Not preferred in night time (though I have done it myself since I became familiar with location of bad sections due to repeated travel). Most sections are completed between Chittoor bypass and Ranipet but small bad sections (about 50m each) remain. Watch out for vechicles (particularly 2 wheelers) who will travel wrong-side in your carriageway to avoid bad sections in the opposite carriageway. In day time, they are easy to spot.

Couple of things to note:
1. On the Nangli-Chittoor section, on several locations (particularly on overpasses) only one lane is open (other lanes are blocked using barricades). Watch out for them and change your lane much in advance.

2. Ranipet railway overbridge is under repair work. Take this route to cross Ranipet.

Overall this route might be more peaceful than Krishnagiri route during the impending long weekend.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by bong_voyager

Is this a new thing? have never faced liquor check at KA-TN border before, in both pre-covid and covid era.

Totally unheard of. At Zuzuvadi, they are more busy extorting trucks than bothering private cars.

[mazda4life]

Originally Posted by bong_voyager

Is this a

it might have been the time at which I was crossing the border (3:30am) and also might be my unshaven wfh look

[k88k]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Totally unheard of. At Zuzuvadi, they are more busy extorting trucks than bothering private cars.

Cops can be found in "Mufti" or Civilian attire right after crossing Attibele border towards Hosur, just before the 1st flyover opp. to SIPCOT. I have been checked a couple of times, but if they see you in company uniform they usually don't stop you for checking.

Have heard that they usually hit jackpot at that check-post.

[m8002?]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Totally unheard of. At Zuzuvadi, they are more busy extorting trucks than bothering private cars.

Exactly my experience as well. I have done BLR MAA trip 8-10 times a year for the last 15 years ( single and with family ), and have never been flagged down.

Never seen them check the buses/cabs/TTs either

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by k88k

Cops can be found in "Mufti" or Civilian attire right after crossing Attibele border towards Hosur, just before the 1st flyover opp. to SIPCOT.

I've seen them. Doing Hosur/Bangalore is like visiting grocery store. Happens 5-6 times a year atleast. Mostly with family, few times done alone too. Only 2 times I've been flagged down in years, both were during elections on the service road leading from HP Shoolagiri to NH.

These experiences are based on driving a TN vehicles.

[Makin Rulesz]

Originally Posted by NPV

Folks - need some help with route recommendations.

Bangalore - Old Mahabalipuram road (Sholinganallur) on Saturday morning, early morning 5am start, guess I will have to endure long weekend traffic, no escape!

Sholinganallur - Bangalore on Monday morning (Nov 1). Can start after 8am

**Is there a need for TN E pass or RTPCR ? I'm fully vaccinated so will have the digital copies of certificates.

This is the alternate straightforward route Link. Apart for around 12KM on SH110 till Mudichur, rest all is divider separated roads. Manimangalam - Mudichur - Tambarm has recently been resurfaced at places and is in good condition. Traffic might be on higher side in this route after Tambaram, but for most part it would be moving. Only bad part is the last 1KM between Medavakkam Junction and Perumbakkam, where roads have been dug and only one lane is usable.

Originally Posted by narayans80

Here you go

Before you ask, yes it is a detour. These are fully divider separated roads until Sholinganallur junction and possibly part of Perumbakkam Road leading to your destination. You'll only see some suburban traffic which is pretty minimal.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Sholinganallur junction is a major junction. Its probably the biggest traffic light after Navalur toll (the only toll you'll see after Chennasamudram if you have followed the above route).

Thanks so much for a great route suggestion and perfect directions with landmarks I made it to my destination without losing my way/missing a turn anywhere (if you're wondering why I'm emphasizing this, it's because I have a history of missing at least one turn in routes I try the first time, despite having navigation support! ).

I started around 5am, on a whim I just took the Krishnagiri route instead of Chittoor route. Traffic was quite normal/low despite being a long weekend. Most tolls had just a few vehicles and no long lines anywhere. I took it very easy and drove slowly too as there was intermittent rain and after Chennasamudram toll there's the 6-laning work in progress which needs driving on narrow service roads for a good distance interspersed with diversions to the main carriageway for short stretches at some places).
Took a 45 minute breakfast break at Sai Sangeet Vaniyambadi and another 30 odd minutes at a Shell outlet in Oragadam to make some phone calls to folks who were trying to reach me to find out if all was well!

From Chennasamudram, I had G-Maps navigation with the map link that you shared, but once I took the turn towards Oragadam Industrial area, it started having its own mind and insisted that I make a U-turn multiple times. So much so, I just turned it off and simply followed the road signages and your directions, I did have the Garmin PND to guide me, though it was asking me to turn towards Mudichur after Padappai and finally understood my intent and recalculated the route towards Kelambakkam-OMR-Sholinganallur and navigated me perfectly to my destination. I reached at 11:15am with total distance of 380Km door to door.