Team-BHP - Hyderabad - Vizag : Route Queries

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9tMax (Post 3244627)

Are there any safety issues if I cross OD on the NH-5, during the late night hours (say in between 10 PM to 5AM)? I'll be traveling with my family.

No safety issues on the NH5, though you wont take 7 hours to cross Odisha that late at night. You could probably do it in under 6 hours.

Folks

A friend of mine is planning to drive down to Vizag from Hyderabad on 31st of this month on his Honda City. We'd appreciate road updates between Hyd and Vijaywada, and from there till Vizag, keeping the recent heavy rains and floods in mind.

Around 2 days back, I heard that the Vijaywada road was breached near Narketpalle, forcing vehicles to go via Jangaon. I also heard that the railway tracks were flooded near Tuni, and perhaps the highway also might have go affected in that area.

Thanks.

My pal traveled to Vizag Steel Township today on his All New Honda City. The update he sent me is:

"On a scale of 10, I'd rate Hyd-Vijaywada as 9, BZW-Rajamundry as 7, and RJY-Vizag as 8.5'.

I was getting regular updates from him throughout the drive. He left at 6 am and reached at 4 pm, including breaks for breakfast, lunch and fuel. Total distance from Vengal Rao Park at Hyd was 660 kms (one needs to add another 25 kms if Vizag City is the destination).

Per him, the road from Vijayawada to Rajajmundry is riddled with potholes all through the stretch. But he said one can drive mostly in 5th gear, and drop gears when there are too many potholes, else one can zig and zag, depending on traffic. He took 2 hours 40 minutes to cover that stretch.

Hope this helps. It is distressing to know that the GQ has taken such a turn. I wonder how long it will take to get it back to its earlier condition.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmmurali (Post 3282823)

I am planning a trip in a week from Hyderabad to Vizag. Is there a short cut/by pass suggested for Vijayawada? Last year around the same time, it was a pain going on the highway through Vijayawada.

Hyderabad-Vijaywada is now fantastic and the NH5 is also good except for some rough sections around Eluru. The "shorter" route via Khamman to Rajahmundry is 2-laned and has some bad stretches for some time now, so best avoided.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmmurali (Post 3282851)

Thanks. Any tips on driving through Vijayawada?

NH9 from Hyderabad ends in either Eluru Road or the NH5 bypass towards Eluru/ Rajahmundry. I am told that the rod gets congested in evening hours largely because of some cinema halls/ malls

Came back yesterday night. Road from Vijayawada to Rajahmundry has pot holes, some damaging and to be avoided, and some we can drive through with some discomfort. Will certainly put a dent in the driving speed. Plan for 45 minutes extra due to these potholes. They started fixing them but not sure when they will completely finish the job.

NH5/NH9 is a mess Sunday evening around 6:30PM. Wasted 1 hour in traffic. I hope real Vijayawada by pass comes through.

Plan such a way to avoid crossing Vijayawada morning 8 - 11AM and evening 5PM to 8:30PM.

While going started at Gachibowli at 3AM, reached Vijayawada Babai Hotel by 7AM. Started at 7:30AM after breakfast and reached Vizag, Novotel Hotel by 2PM with a 25 minute break at Annavaram temple Prasadam counter on . NH5. Could have reached 30 minutes earlier if I have taken the port road after Gajuwaka. iPhone Google Maps suggested that but we didn't take it. We took it while coming back.

Started at Vizag 10AM (took port road), again break for 25 minutes at Annavaram temple Prasadam counter. Stopped at relatives in Hanuman Junction for lunch at around 3:30PM. Started again at 5PM and reached Gachibowli by 11:00PM.

My friend took 11.5 hours to reach Hyderabad on his return trip on Nov 4th, including bio and food breaks. He was driving at at safe speed of 80 kmph, and got an FE of 19 kmpl on his All New Honda City.

He says the return leg has fewer potholes on the RJY-BZA stretch. Crossing Vijaywada took him less than an hour around 1 pm. He made the mistake of taking the shorter route to Banjara Hills via LB Nagar. He'd have saved around half an hour if he'd taken the longer route via ORR and PVNR Expressway.

Another colleague of mine drove from Vizag City to Kondapur on 8th November on his Cruze, and reached in 9 hours, including a 45 minute break for lunch. He started at 9 am and reached by 6 pm via the ORR. He too had the same feedback on the horrible stretch between Rajamundry and Vijaywada. But on good stretches, he'd done triple digit speeds.

For those who are concerned about crossing Vijayawada, have a look at the alternate route. This would not go through the dreaded Benz Circle.

You can also follow the below link for more information:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...l-info-16.html

3 of my colleagues drove from Hyd to Vizag / Rajamundry this month and returned.

Their updates are:

Hyd to Vijaywada continues to be a pleasurable drive. Many good eating joints near Suryapet.
Crossing Vijaywada continues to take 45 minutes to an hour. Perhaps the route suggested by Josevijay might be a better detour.
Vijaywada to Rajamundry is patchy with more traffic. Average speed of 70 to 80 kms on this stretch.
Rajamundry to Vizag is great, but not as good as the Hyd- Vijaywada stretch.
Crossing NAD Jn at Vizag takes 15 to 30 minutes, depending on peak time or off time. It is better to take the detour at Sheela Nagar on the new road that skirts the airport runway.
No decent hotels between Vijaywada and Vizag, except few roadside dhabas.

I have a trip planned for Hyd to Bapatla in the second week of Sept. The route I am planning to take is Hyd - Vijaywada - Guntur - Bapatla. I understand from this thread that the stretch from Hyd - Vijaywada is very good. Any tips about the Vijaywada - Guntur - Bapatla stretch will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!