[Sudhindra]

Hi All,

I will be relocating to Chennai for temproary project assignment for 6 months or so. I am planning to ride by bike(Honda Highness) this month end from Bangalore(Yelahanka). Whether the present road condition from Chittoor to Chennai is manageable by bike?

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by Sudhindra

Whether the present road condition from Chittoor to Chennai is manageable by bike?

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: Ride in broad daylight end to end. Be watchful for diversions on the Chittoor-Ranipet stretch, 6 to 4-lane and 4 to 6-lane switchbacks on Kanchipuram-Sriperumbudur stretch. Approximately about 500 meter section is bad.

Above 3 are the items you need to moderate your pace. Rest is a no brainer.

Given you are on 2-wheels you can get past the barricades near the Katpadi turnoff.

[Game_of_Roads]

Originally Posted by Kaumad

New annoyance that has come up on the Hosur - Shoolagiri stretch in either direction.
Milled stretches masquerading as 'speed breakers'. I dont know which idiot thought it was a good idea to have milled rumble stretches as an effective way to reduce speeds.

I encountered this a few days ago as well. Have lined up the choicest of abuses for whichever nutcase thought to have these made. There already were proper speed breakers in this stretch every few kms. Now these TERRIBLE car-breakers have been imposed on us.

Can someone confirm if this monstrosity stops around Shoolagiri since I only travelled till Shoolagiri a few days ago ? I need to travel to Chennai in a few days and there are no good options. All routes to Chennai are peppered with different types of annoyances.

I need to get to somewhere on ECR near VGP golden beach and was even happy to take the Hosur-Krishnagiri-Tiruvannamalai-Gingee-Mahabalipuram route but now this entire direction has this new annoyance has mushroomed recently.

This new annoyance is not an exaggeration. It is really a terrible TERRIBLE idea with a real potential to wreck suspensions, and there are so many of these, not just a few.

[mah45]

Hi all,
Have a trip upcoming next month to Bangalore
Looking at the multiple threads about rumble strips near Shoolagiri, and the new flyover work near Arcot, seriously thinking whether I should dump the idea of driving and instead take Vande Bharat train to Bangalore.

To add to it, I also see in the Bangalore - Pondy thread about new flyover work that has come up between Hosur and Krishnagiri.
Any latest updates on this entire route would be helpful, Thanks

[Aviator_guy]

Originally Posted by mah45

Hi all,
Have a trip upcoming next month to Bangalore
Looking at the multiple threads about rumble strips near Shoolagiri, and the new flyover work near Arcot, seriously thinking whether I should dump the idea of driving and instead take Vande Bharat train to Bangalore.

To add to it, I also see in the Bangalore - Pondy thread about new flyover work that has come up between Hosur and Krishnagiri.
Any latest updates on this entire route would be helpful, Thanks

Krishnagiri to BLR is full of traffic and diversion due to multiple flyover work. I recently did BLR-Kodaikanal-BLR via Salem and was stuck at multiple places due to the construction work. In fact, during return journey, I took Salem Hosur new highway as per Gmaps (which suggested me to avoid Krishnagiri-Hosur highway) but still got stuck in heavy traffic in remote areas as some stretches are not complete and many folks like me trusted Gmap and had to take non existent roads via fields!

If you have option to take VB train, that won't be a bad idea.

[Vizay]

Originally Posted by Aviator_guy

... In fact, during return journey, I took Salem Hosur new highway as per Gmaps (which suggested me to avoid Krishnagiri-Hosur highway) but still got stuck in heavy traffic in remote areas as some stretches are not complete and many folks like me trusted Gmap and had to take non existent roads via fields!

Hope you are referring to NH844.
How bad is this stretch and for how many kms the work is pending? Was looking at this as a suitable alternate for blr to salem stretch.

[Aviator_guy]

Originally Posted by Vizay

Hope you are referring to NH844.
How bad is this stretch and for how many kms the work is pending? Was looking at this as a suitable alternate for blr to salem stretch.

This stretch is still under construction and I won't recommend as an alternative yet, specially during night time. About 30-40% is complete from Salem side but afterwards one has to take diversions via village roads all the way up to Hosur. I got stuck in traffic as many blr bound cars took this route as per Gmaps.

[Aerobat]

Originally Posted by mah45

Hi all,
Have a trip upcoming next month to Bangalore
Looking at the multiple threads about rumble strips near Shoolagiri, and the new flyover work near Arcot, seriously thinking whether I should dump the idea of driving and instead take Vande Bharat train to Bangalore.

To add to it, I also see in the Bangalore - Pondy thread about new flyover work that has come up between Hosur and Krishnagiri.
Any latest updates on this entire route would be helpful, Thanks

Drove on the Krishnagiri-Hosur stretch on Sat, 31 August 2024 at 13:00 hrs, while returning back from Kumbakonam. My observations are :

- There are new flyovers being constructed on this stretch, but service roads are provided. I did not face any issues or traffic jam

- The new rumble strips along this stretch are meant to give a rattle and wakeup any sleepy driver. Most of the vehicles do not even slow down on these new strips, as it just gives a rattle

- Encountered dense traffic after entering Bengaluru outskirts

[vnabhi]

Folks

We need to drive to MGM Beach Resorts from Whitefield in a couple of days, and we cannot start before noon. Do you suggest the route via Kolar, Palamner, Chitoor, Ranipet and Sriperumbedur, or the one via Hosur and Krishnagiri?

In case it is the former, what roadblocks should i watch out for near Chitoor, and how is the road from there to Chennai? I last drove on the Ranipet to Chitoor stretch in July 2022, and it was an undivided highway of moderately decent quality.

Thanks in advance.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by vnabhi

Folks

We need to drive to MGM Beach Resorts from Whitefield in a couple of days, and we cannot start before noon. Do you suggest the route via Kolar, Palamner, Chitoor, Ranipet and Sriperumbedur, or the one via Hosur and Krishnagiri?

In case it is the former, what roadblocks should i watch out for near Chitoor, and how is the road from there to Chennai? I last drove on the Ranipet to Chitoor stretch in July 2022, and it was an undivided highway of moderately decent quality.

Thanks in advance.

You should do: Chitoor-Ranipet-Sunguvarchatram - Walajah Fork (SH120) - Vandalur - Kelambakam - MGM


Route Link

[vnabhi]

Originally Posted by ampere

You should do: Chitoor-Ranipet-Sunguvarchatram - Walajah Fork (SH120) - Vandalur - Kelambakam - MGM


Route Link

Many thanks. Any particular reason you want us to avoid Sriperumbudur?

This apart, I've read on this thread some posts on the turning towards Vellore from Chitoor being blocked. Is that a thing of the past?

[srvm]

Originally Posted by ampere

You should do: Chitoor-Ranipet-Sunguvarchatram - Walajah Fork (SH120) - Vandalur - Kelambakam - MGM


Route Link

Originally Posted by vnabhi

Many thanks. Any particular reason you want us to avoid Sriperumbudur?

This apart, I've read on this thread some posts on the turning towards Vellore from Chitoor being blocked. Is that a thing of the past?

I took a KSRTC bus from Bangalore to Chennai (via Chittoor) on the night of 30th August.
Due to railway underpass construction at Bommasamudram railway crossing, buses took Chitoor-Vellore-NH4-Arcot instead of going via Ranipet.
This adds some kms to the distance. Road are overall good except for some small stretches around AP-TN border. Can be done at night as well. But some stretches between Gudipala-Katpadi can be eerie at night. But now with buses taking this route, it may not be so desolate.

During daytime, crossing Katpadi-Vellore section can be a bit painful due to dense traffic. But doable.

Consider this, before choosing between Chittoor and Krishnagiri routes.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by vnabhi

Many thanks. Any particular reason you want us to avoid Sriperumbudur?

Originally Posted by srvm

Consider this, before choosing between Chittoor and Krishnagiri routes.

Sorry srvm responded before me. I was about to say the same. Look for reviews on Chitoor-Ranipet before deciding.

One option that can be tried is Palamaner-Gudiyatam-Pallikonda. But considering the start is post lunch, I wont suggest this.

[Adsc0230]

Hi,

In the last week of September mid-week, I have a meeting in Chennai and I am looking forward to a Bangalore (Whitefield) to Chennai road trip. I intend to start around 8AM from Whitefield and return the next day for an early afternoon start from Chennai back to Bangalore - so a quick 2-day trip.

I have gone through several of the posts in this thread and there's a lot of good info however I believe it's in bits and pieces and some info could be old given the active construction on highways.

This will be my first time driving this route and I am not aware of the towns and areas on the way. Most of the posts mention to avoid certain Google map routes and places that again I am not familiar with. I don't mind the usual traffic as I believe that's expected.

If someone here has recently done this route, can you please help share a comprehensive route guide along with pit stops to help plan this drive? If there is a post already, please help with the link to the same.

Thanks in advance.

[Sreesh1009]

I am headed to Chennai tomorrow afternoon and wanted to know which route to take. Do I go via KR Puram or E-City?

Another question I have is what are some good and moderately priced hotels in Central Chennai?

Thanks in advance!