[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by venkyhere

A) Chennasamudram <--> Kanchipuram outer
B) Kanchipuram outer <--> Sriperumbudur
C) Sriperumbudur <--> Chennai

A) Chennasamudram <--> Kanchipuram outer
B) Kanchipuram outer <--> Sriperumbudur

A & B > I would say the status is almost similar. Almost 80 pc of this section is through diversion/ service road and new road.

The new road sections (by new I mean the widened ones) where all done still have markings and painting on barriers pending at majority of the places, however compared to earlier moon crater road conditions here, its far better.

The diversion / service road sections are marked and smooth mostly, however it will slow you down since majority of the road is in 1.5 lane width. With truck traffic, it becomes a pain. Also, the length of each diversion is more, hence will slow you down.


Apart from this, there are still the old road sections which comes up in between, but they are few and far. Surface of those sections are bad as earlier.


C) Sriperumbudur <--> Chennai
I would say 90pc good. Some sections pending and also markings and entry / exit is pending completion.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by mankuthimma

Hello Sir,
I have a trip coming up to Pallavaram soon. Your guidance on the same route is super useful !
If my destination is one of the mahals whose address says 200 ft radial road, old Pallavaram, your suggested route via Medha college- Kundrathur-Pammal still holds good ? (marked in blue arrow ) I think so because it seems to avoid going via Chromepet which I suspect could be traffic heavy ?
gmaps doesnt show this option, but keeps showing different alternatives depending upon time of the day, as shown in the attachment.
Just wanted to reconfirm the route again so that I dont get misled by gmaps routing algorithm at the last moment.

Attachment 2452735

Happy to Help !
Yes, the route is still good, however, it also depends on the time of the day you are entering Madras city.
If you are entering Sriperumbudur post 9 pm or early in the mornings, then yes , take the Kundrathur road route which is shorter in distance and can be navigated easily.
If it is peak hours, you are obviously going to get slow down in both the routes. One main advantage of going via Vandalur-Tambaram-Chrompet is you get a very wide roads despite the traffic.

-Ravi

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by mankuthimma

If my destination is one of the mahals whose address says 200 ft radial road

When do you plan to enter the city?

You can drive Sunguvarchatram-Oragadam-Vandalur-Pallavaram-200 feet road or Oragadam-Mannivakkam-Mudichur-Valluvar Gurukulam-200 feet Road. The former offers more wider roads than the latter.

As a daily commuter, I don't prefer Ponds Signal-Pammal-Thiruneermalai-Thirumudivakkam at all.

That section is busy all the way till 10 pm.
You have mountain sized speed breakers, especially unscientific ones between Thiruneermalai and Thirumudivakkam.
The 2.5 km Ponds Signal to Pammal drive is downright scary where everyone wants to meet Lord Yama

If you are at Vandalur at 1100 am to 300 pm, you can breeze through. Same goes to 600 to 800 am and after 900 pm.

As a non-local, you'll be at lot more ease driving through GST when you time it properly.

[mankuthimma]

Originally Posted by ravib

Happy to Help !
Yes, the route is still good, however, it also depends on the time of the day you are entering Madras city.

-Ravi

Originally Posted by narayans80

When do you plan to enter the city?

You can drive Sunguvarchatram-Oragadam-Vandalur-Pallavaram-200 feet road or Oragadam-Mannivakkam-Mudichur-Valluvar Gurukulam-200 feet Road. The former offers more wider roads than the latter.

...

If you are at Vandalur at 1100 am to 300 pm, you can breeze through. Same goes to 600 to 800 am and after 900 pm.

As a non-local, you'll be at lot more ease driving through GST when you time it properly.

Yes 11AM to 3PM is a good estimate for an early morning start from Bangalore (Whitefield actually, so will be taking Kolar route). Will keep these points in mind. I am bit familiar with Sunguvarchatram route, thanks to your suggestions, during my last trip to Chennai.
Thank you so much again for these very helpful insights!

[prabhuferrari]

I went to Arcot couple of days back and took the maduravyol route. The roads are wider now from maduravayol all the way till poonamalee bypass end. And there is road widening till the tiruvallur turn. Post that good roads till sriperumbudur. Return was also via same route. So if one lives in central or north chennai, this route is definitely better than kundrathur porur or any other alternate.

[mpksuhas]

A late update.

21-May-2023 - Chennai - Bangalore.

Started from Chennai around 1.45 PM, till Sriperumbadur it was quick, thanks to the mostly completed widening at most the place. Past that the road widening related diversions slow you down a bit.

Then again, till Ambur it was quick, the flyover work at Ambur seems to be happening quick.

Past Krishnagiri, the usual weekend traffic was there, especially at the ghat sections with vehicle maintaining the usual video game mode.

Reached home at around 8.30PM.

[srvm]

Originally Posted by mpksuhas

A late update.

21-May-2023 - Chennai - Bangalore.
....
Past Krishnagiri, the usual weekend traffic was there, especially at the ghat sections with vehicle maintaining the usual video game mode.

Reached home at around 8.30PM.

Thanks for the update, Suhas. I have a trip to Chennai & back coming up next week. Though I usually take the Chittoor route, the route between Chennasamudram toll plaza & Chennai is common and I'm happy to see your update

I too was on the Krishnagiri - Bangalore highway yesterday between 3pm-5pm. Sunday evening with so many trucks hogging the rightmost lane was frustrating. And many 2-wheelers in the left lane (which of course is the safest they can do).
If Tolkien were alive, he would be calling this crazy traffic as the Battle for Middle Lane

[shankar.balan]

Years since my Dad and I took the scenic Chittoor Palamaner Mulbagal Kolar Route.
Yes there are broken patches and work being done. But it is really scenic and pretty. And I am so happy to drive on one of our old highways again.

[ajmat]

I drove on May 1st via Palamaneer. Was planning to take the Hosur way but my cousins advised me to take this route


Onward- Being May Day, the dreaded KR Puram section was a breeze. Some signals upto Hoskote then the road opened out. It was two lanes but the scenery and the curves made it interesting. Left around 8 am and reached before 2.

Around Ranipet, the road got crowded and the diversions approaching Chennai were a little painful. On my return, the next day, I left at 630 am and reached by 1 PM. took a one hours break as I had to take a call.

[freakmuzik]

Hi, planning for a Chennai - Banglore drive in a couple of days. Google maps is showing two options -

Route 1 - Maduravoyal - Sriperumbadur - Ranipet - Chittoor - Bangarupalem - Kolar - Hoskote - Bengaluru

Route 2 - Maduravoyal - Sriperumbadur - Vellore - Ambur - Vaniyambadi - Krishnagiri - Hosur - Bengaluru

This would be my first drive between these two cities. My ride is a relatively low GC E140 Corolla Altis, with family, and I'd be planning for an early morning departure (4:30 AM) from near Anna Nagar.

Your inputs will be highly appreciated. Thank you!

[ravib]

Originally Posted by freakmuzik

Hi, planning for a Chennai - Banglore drive in a couple of days. Google maps is showing two options -

Route 1 - Maduravoyal - Sriperumbadur - Ranipet - Chittoor - Bangarupalem - Kolar - Hoskote - Bengaluru

Route 2 - Maduravoyal - Sriperumbadur - Vellore - Ambur - Vaniyambadi - Krishnagiri - Hosur - Bengaluru

This would be my first drive between these two cities. My ride is a relatively low GC E140 Corolla Altis, with family, and I'd be planning for an early morning departure (4:30 AM) from near Anna Nagar.

Your inputs will be highly appreciated. Thank you!

It depends on your destination in Bangalore. Where exactly you want to goto Bangalore, accordingly choose the route. If it is East or North side, then take Chittoor route. Else take, Hosur route.

-Ravi

[narayans80]

Left at an unusual start time of 120 am on 2nd June. Was surprised to see lot of shift buses at that hour. Beyond Chennasamudram it was total free run. We were at 3:10 am at Chennasamudram and 5:16 am at Krishnagiri. Two power naps later we were at T-Begur Paakshala at 8:00 am

Timings are based on Fastag logs.

[Yieldway17]

Originally Posted by freakmuzik

Route 1 - Maduravoyal - Sriperumbadur - Ranipet - Chittoor - Bangarupalem - Kolar - Hoskote - Bengaluru

Route 2 - Maduravoyal - Sriperumbadur - Vellore - Ambur - Vaniyambadi - Krishnagiri - Hosur - Bengaluru

As it's your first drive to Bengaluru, I'd recommend you to take both routes, from and to. The stretch till Ranipet from Chennai (which is the worst part of the journey) is common to both the routes anyway. Both routes have its unique advantages and disadvantages and the location in Bengaluru is also a factor.

[Sandegov]

Did Bangalore-Chennai-Bangalore over 12th & 13th

Left Bangalore at 8am on 12th and reached Central Chennai at exact 3pm with a big lunch break of a little over an hour in Ranipet and one quick break after that. On the return we left Central Chennai at 12pm and reached Bangalore at 7pm, one quick lunch break at Ranipet and a snack break before Mulbagal. Got some rains in Chittoor and Mulbagal which may have slowed us by 15-20 mins. Travelled with family and these times were kept with speeds <100 at all times.

One way distance : ~330km
Vehicle : XUV700 D AT
Mileage : 14.5kmpl


Blr-Chitoor : Excellent tarmac till the border and then cement road, very less traffic throughout.

Chittoor-Ranipet : Slightly narrow road with very good surface and 1-2 small diversions.

Ranipet-Chennai : Lots of ongoing work and constant diversions, lost the count of the times we were getting on and off the highway, no issues with the road surface as such and no stops too but this constant on-off will definitely slow you down.

I dont do this route very often and I was pleasantly surprised to see the traffic behaviour to be much better than what I usually encounter on Tumkur/Hassan roads with video game like driving at 100+ speeds. It was a very pleasant and leasurily drive under 40+ temperatures

Thanks to all the contributors on this thread, definitely helped me plan my trip.

[raju2512]

Travelled to Hosur and back yesterday from Chennai.

There seems to be no working going on in any of the over bridges (except Ambur). The sites look deserted and all the construction equipment have been taken away from the sites. Is there any re tender/litigation happening that too for all the sites.

Seems that the travelling woes are not going to end soon