[pypkmsrikanth]

Originally Posted by srvm

Quick answer is a big NO.
The ghat section is desolate even in day time. For this route to work, you should be in Gudiyattam by 5.30pm. Which means enter Palamner not later than 4.30pm.

I have taken that route during late evening hours occasionally even after 9 PM also, I agree it is desolate with very little traffic except truckers, but never felt safety was an issue though it is now been a couple of years since I drove down that stretch. Has it become worse now?

[srvm]

Originally Posted by pypkmsrikanth

I have taken that route during late evening hours occasionally even after 9 PM also, I agree it is desolate with very little traffic except truckers, but never felt safety was an issue though it is now been a couple of years since I drove down that stretch. Has it become worse now?

Not advisable for a first-timer on that route, like BHPian Slavia2021.

My experience on that route (taken it a few times since my destination was Virinchipuram and I live near Old Madras road, Bangalore):
Have seen overturned trucks in the ghat section, almost everytime I took that route. In general, it is a risky route due to low vehicular density and lack of emergency amenities (puncturewalla, towing vehicle, mechanics, petrol pumps etc). After dark, just this section between Palamner-Gudiyattam doesn't seem safe for driving with family.

[airguitar]

Originally Posted by pypkmsrikanth

I have taken that route during late evening hours occasionally even after 9 PM also, I agree it is desolate with very little traffic except truckers, but never felt safety was an issue though it is now been a couple of years since I drove down that stretch. Has it become worse now?

I have driven much later in the night (10 pm etc), I'm a regular on that route, given I stay around Hoskote. Add to it that there are 1-2 police outposts and forest checkposts, in general it is safe. However, of late, there have been cases of inebriated youth on the TN side blocking the road ( Imagine 5 or 6 bikes parked in the middle of the narrow road and the riders not in their senses and want money for their next 30ml) - it's an avoidable situation. I would certainly not recommend it anymore post dark (I have stopped taking it myself post 7pm). It may not happen each time, but the risk is always there and there is very little you can do when faced with such situations. The odd times I have taken a cab ( during my injury/surgery periods ), they have strictly told me that they will not be ok returning by that route after dark. It's not that bad of course, but some caution helps.

Originally Posted by srvm

Not advisable for a first-timer on that route, like BHPian Slavia2021.
.

+1. A first-timer driving on the stretch would definitely have some heebie jeebies despite the thrill the route offers.

Overall, I'm saying use that road - it's a good option, just avoid after dark (and that too, just to err on the side of caution). If you get a chance to drive early morning ( 6AM ish ), then it would be awesome - a good experience.

[balenoed_]

Bad jam on Hosur - Krishnagiri towards Krishnagiri. Vehicles are going helter skelter in wrong ways, including buses are switching to opposite side and going in wrong way. If there is a traffic, the vehicles automatically get all the rights to break the rules.

[Jazzybala]

Originally Posted by airguitar

. +1. A first-timer driving on the stretch would definitely have some heebie jeebies despite the thrill the route offers.

Overall, I'm saying use that road - it's a good option, just avoid after dark (and that too, just to err on the side of caution). If you get a chance to drive early morning ( 6AM ish ), then it would be awesome - a good experience.

I have done that route around 11pm, pre-covid times. The route is very safe during day times but after dark it is always better to avoid it unless you are going as a group of cars or bunch of guys.

Originally Posted by balenoed_

Bad jam on Hosur - Krishnagiri towards Krishnagiri. Vehicles are going helter skelter in wrong ways, including buses are switching to opposite side and going in wrong way. If there is a traffic, the vehicles automatically get all the rights to break the rules. MPlayer

When was this? I drove the same route around 1330 and had no issues whatsoever.

[Gotcha]

Similarly, the immensely delayed widening project of the Bengaluru - Tumkur National Highway 48 is causing extreme congestion and frequent accidents. This is the same stretch where 6 of a family were killed recently when a container truck toppled on their Volvo XC90 car.

Pained, agitated and to mark my protest, I filed a complaint with the PMO using pgportal.gov.in and I got a standard reply from the NHAI project director saying the project is delayed due to land acquisition issues, which will be resolved and project will be completed "soon" (without a deadline again). I'm hoping that with more such complaints filed, the delays will be brought to the notice of the govt and work will be expedited.

https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.c.../115669268.cms

Originally Posted by searacer932

It's sad to see the poor condition of the Chennai Bangalore highway. The highway stretch between Chennai and Vellore is atrocious to say the least and it's a crime to collect toll in this stretch. Is it worth raising an issue on PG Portal grievance about this? The URL to this grievance site is : https://pgportal.gov.in/

[glvenubt11]

People can try Poonamallee - Mappedu - Arakkonam - cholingar - Chittoor - Mulbagal - Hoskote - Bangalore, if you are driving during the day and wanted to drive sedately (especially Mappedu - Arakkonam stretch.). Toll is also very less compared to Krishnagiri, Vellore, Kanchipuram route.

[clementw]

This stretch to Vellore is a mystery. When this stretch under the NHAI remains unfinished but the toll is collected without fail for so many years now, they are building a new greenfield highway to Bangalore ostensibly to save 1-2 hours of travel time. The mind boggling cost to build a new road when two existing roads remain unfinished and in shambles at places makes one wonder where is all the money for these projects coming and going.

[umashankar]

Originally Posted by balenoed_

Bad jam on Hosur - Krishnagiri towards Krishnagiri. Vehicles are going helter skelter in wrong ways, including buses are switching to opposite side and going in wrong way. If there is a traffic, the vehicles automatically get all the rights to break the rules.

The Krishnagiri road is always a mess; added to that, road work is also in progress. Try the Rayakottai Road, it is not complete yet, but better than Krishnagiri main road traffic.

[airguitar]

Originally Posted by clementw

This stretch to Vellore is a mystery. When this stretch under the NHAI remains unfinished but the toll is collected without fail for so many years now, they are building a new greenfield highway to Bangalore ostensibly to save 1-2 hours of travel time. The mind boggling cost to build a new road when two existing roads remain unfinished and in shambles at places makes one wonder where is all the money for these projects coming and going.

I remember seeing this video about the exchange in the parliament between Mr. Maran and Mr. Gadkari a year or so ago where Mr. Maran speaks about the Ranipet to Chennai stretch and Mr. Gadkari explains about the land acquisition etc. I didn't pay much attention back then, but, I watched it again, Mr. Gadkari seems to speak more about the in-progress expressway in the response and not the existing stretch b/w Ranipet and Chennai.

Does anyone know the actual reason why that stretch has been in the works for so long ? I'm a frequent driver on this stretch and it's becoming very arduous once I get past Vellore. Taking the train is not an option for me given the luggage etc I carry. AFAIK, the new eway isn't going to help folks at Kanchipuram or Ranipet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHJZTU4P5EM

[balenoed_]

Originally Posted by umashankar

The Krishnagiri road is always a mess; added to that, road work is also in progress. Try the Rayakottai Road, it is not complete yet, but better than Krishnagiri main road traffic.

But towards Chennai, Rayakkottai route is not an option right. It is only for Dharmapuri and beyond isn’t it. Or is there a Rayakkottai - Krishnagiri road which is worth taking than the usual route. I don’t think so.

[Corollafan]

Planning to travel to Chennai on Hoskote-Mulbagal-Chittoor-Ranipet road next week.

To avoid horrible stretch between Kanchipuram and Sriperumbudur I am looking for alternate routes.

1. Take diversion at Ocheri on NH4 towards Panappakam-Thakkolam-Mannur and join NH4 at Thandalam. This route is longer by only 3 km but requires additional 25-30 mins as per google maps.

2. Another route is Kanchipuram-Thangai-Vandalur-Chromepet-Chennai. Little longer than first option and will take 40 minutes more.

Does anyone know road condition of these routes?

Thanks!

[srvm]

Originally Posted by Corollafan

Planning to travel to Chennai on Hoskote-Mulbagal-Chittoor-Ranipet road next week.

To avoid horrible stretch between Kanchipuram and Sriperumbudur I am looking for alternate routes.

1. Take diversion at Ocheri on NH4 towards Panappakam-Thakkolam-Mannur and join NH4 at Thandalam. This route is longer by only 3 km but requires additional 25-30 mins as per google maps.

2. Another route is Kanchipuram-Thangai-Vandalur-Chromepet-Chennai. Little longer than first option and will take 40 minutes more.

Does anyone know road condition of these routes?

Thanks!

I travelled to Chennai and back over the past weekend.
Present road condition between Chennasamudram toll plaza and Sriperumbudur does not warrant any of the above detours. Number of diversions have come down significantly. Finished sections are smooth and pothole free. Some finished sections do not have lane markers yet. Diversions are also in decent shape.

The number of diversions on the Sriperumbudur - Chennasamudram toll plaza direction are more compared to the onward route.

[BharathXUV700]

Originally Posted by ampere

Another way I realized the KA part of the Bangalore-Chennai expressway can be used (if that opens early).

Drive till Sundarapalaya exit on the expressway. This is 10 km before V Kota. Drive to V Kota and there on to Gudiyatam. From here one can get on the Vellore 6-lane at Pallikonda and continue. This will avoid the entire Hosur-Krishnagiri-Ambur mess as well as the Chitoor-Ranipet mess.

Can you tell us how you got onto the expressway at Hoskote. I tried getting on and the expressway was blocked last week.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by BharathXUV700

Can you tell us how you got onto the expressway at Hoskote. I tried getting on and the expressway was blocked last week.

Its not possible to enter now as they completely closed it. One way its better to avoid accidents at this time. Let it be fully usable and then better to open for traffic rather than half baked manner.

-Ravi