[Drdriver]

Hello fellow bhpians.

Recently I shifted base from Banswara, Rajasthan to Bhatinda, Punjab.
I got to use the Amritsar Jamnagar economic corridor on my route.

Driving rulebook I followed:
1. Drive at cruising speed. (80-90 kmph)
2. AC on to middle setting, blower fixed at 1 or 2 depending on cabin comfort levels. (It’s still hot in the daytime in Rajasthan)
3. No hard accelerations except when absolutely required.
4. Check all fluids and tyre pressure the first thing in the morning before starting off.

Day 1: Banswara to Jodhpur

It was a flurry of activity in my house as I got a job offer from Bhatinda asking to join within 4 days maximum on Dhanteras. No one refuses when Laxmiji herself comes to your door so I grabbed the opportunity and packed my stuff in 1 day. My uncle, his wife and cousin had come to our place to celebrate. And my grandparents were also moving to Jodhpur from our place with them.
They have a TUV300 and their boot was also jam packed with luggage. I had my grandfather with me riding shotgun.
Early morning post diwali, we left for Jodhpur. Took us 8 hours to reach Jodhpur, inclusive of a brunch stop and 2 tea breaks. My grandparents have been really pleased with the long distance capabilities and sheer ruggedness of the TUV300 and my father’s Mahindra Quanto as it gives them good comfort over bad roads. They had been apprehensive of smaller cars ever since. But on reaching Jodhpur, grandpa couldn’t believe the fatigue-free and comfy ride of the Punch.

Mileage achieved: 21.8kmpl

Stopped for the night in Jodhpur and from here on to Bhatinda I was the lone person travelling.

Day 2: Jodhpur to Bhatinda.

Woke up at 5 am to hit the road by 5:30. Packed food, took the blessings of my elders and started my day. Osian was a paltry 45 kms from their place. As soon as I passed the first toll of Osian, I took a short break for putting some caffeine in my system. (Caffeine for medicos is like fuel for their bodies)
It turned out to be a long break unfortunately as I saw that my DRLs had blown. Curse the t10 LED the aftermarket guy stuck on during mods. Had to YouTube and see how could I put the halogens back into place. An hour wasted right there.
In another 30 mins, I reached the entry point of the expressway.
I had researched and found out that no petrol pumps existed on the road as of Atleast 4 months ago. Just to be on the safe side, I filled up my tank to the absolute brim after autocut. Hit the expressway at 7am precisely.

I had previously driven the Trans Haryana expressway (NH152D) on my way to Banswara 6 months ago but this behemoth of Tarmac is in another league altogether.
It was 350 odd kilometres to Jaitpur where the expressway terminates.
After an hour driving absolutely straight, I knew this wasn’t going to be any easy feat and pulled over at the first rest stop I found.
Was not surprised to see that nothing had been opened since that last update from 4 months ago on YouTube. No fuel, no food, no water. It’s just you, your car, and your own preparedness. Took a small bathroom break and had sandwiches, washed my face and started driving again. 5G connectivity is excellent throughout the route so I called up my friend in Australia (I was sure that the only man doing a long distance drive at the moment other than me in my list would be him.)
We talked for the next 3 hours and that kept me awake and driving continuously.
There’s absolutely 0 traffic. I encountered 1 car other than me on the whole route and I had nothing to do about it. I was cruising at a lovely 90 kmph in the centre lane, the car moved to the left on seeing me, let me pass and shifted back in my rear view mirror. Hardly any steering input. Had to admit, here is exactly where cruise control would be handy. I had to do it the old fashioned way, toes stuck to the side wall at an angle and accelerator fixed.
I exited the expressway at Jaitpur at 11 am and from here on is a single road to Rawatsar-Hanumangarh and then finally to Bhatinda.
The last stretch isn’t anything to write home about. Except the beautiful quality of the road, it’s the regular thoroughfare one might expect in any part of the country.

Mileage achieved: 22.8kmpl

Below are some pictures and videos that I took along the way which will give an idea how packed I was and how the road is.
4 hours to cross almost the entirety of Rajasthan was something unimaginable 5-6 years ago.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=hmUqgOxS...vysqFyNqZIeglU

https://youtube.com/watch?v=vIU8dZGU...0-MLl0pmkr60j0

https://youtube.com/watch?v=KuBQ1MTt...FzadECND9NkijV

[maddy42]

Congrats on your new job! More of Laxmijis blessings to you.

Any specific reason for the low traffic or is it due to the complete stretch not being open to the public?

What was the toll rates for your stretch?

[gauravanekar]

Did it look like motorcycles are allowed?

[Drdriver]

Originally Posted by gauravanekar

Did it look like motorcycles are allowed?

As of now, if the toll plaza guys let you go and use the road, I don't think it would be an issue. But eventually at full operation, motorcycles might not be allowed. Its the same issue as Samruddhi mahamarg. I can see a lot of blown tires and high speed accidents due to noob drivers or poor maintenance happening on this road.

Originally Posted by maddy42

What was the toll rates for your stretch?

The toll was ₹385 on the expressway stretch. If you want a full toll cost for banswara to bhatinda, I'll calculate that and update here.

Originally Posted by maddy42

Congrats on your new job! More of Laxmijis blessings to you.

Any specific reason for the low traffic or is it due to the complete stretch not being open to the public?

EDIT:

Thank you for the wishes. I forgot to answer the other question in my previous reply.

Low traffic is basically due to 0 support on the whole route. You can get stranded on the highway for hours on end without food or water. There are no restrooms, no petrol pumps, no dhabas, not even small food eateries as of now. You wont get a single drop of water on the expressway. Facilities will come soon but its still an endurance challenge of sorts to travel this road. For both man and machine. I was way too paranoid about running out of fuel but later realised I should have been worried about water too. The road heats up like anything in the day too. Barren landscape and deserted areas do little to provide any shade whatsoever. Truckers will usually avoid such routes for the sheer lack of mechanic support for their run down vehicles.

[OffRoadFun]

Originally Posted by Drdriver

Low traffic is basically due to 0 support on the whole route. You can get stranded on the highway for hours on end without food or water. There are no restrooms, no petrol pumps, no dhabas, not even small food eateries as of now. You wont get a single drop of water on the expressway. Facilities will come soon but its still an endurance challenge of sorts to travel this road. For both man and machine. I was way too paranoid about running out of fuel but later realised I should have been worried about water too. The road heats up like anything in the day too. Barren landscape and deserted areas do little to provide any shade whatsoever. Truckers will usually avoid such routes for the sheer lack of mechanic support for their run down vehicles.

Sounds like perfect idea for adventure trip in the winter. I know this is a greenfield project passing through (already) sparsely populated regions of Western Rajasthan where there is sparse traffic on roads anyways!

[jigar1791@gmail]

Originally Posted by OffRoadFun

Sounds like perfect idea for adventure trip in the winter. I know this is a greenfield project passing through (already) sparsely populated regions of Western Rajasthan where there is sparse traffic on roads anyways!

The Amritsar - Jamnagar E-way is more strategic than utilitarian -

- If we see the alignment of this highway, it covers almost all the districts bordering Pakistan - which generally is not always calm and peaceful.
Result : in an event of conflict, our armed forces can reach to the conflict zone swiftly, improving our deterrence/offensive capabilities.

- There are many full-fledged air-force bases present on the corridor. To name a few - Bhuj, Naliya, Jamnagar, Jodhpur, Phalodi, Amritsar, Bhatinda (few that I can recall as I write).
Ease of access to such national security assets is of paramount importance in a disturbed world with a rogue neighbor

- Many strategic national infrastructure projects (private/public units) are located close to the alignment OR I'd say - the alignment of the highway is such that these infra projects are easily accessible, providing quicker logistical transit times and may result in cost optimization (down the line).
Infra projects that I can think of - Jamnagar Oil Refinery (RIL), Suratgarh Thermal Power Plant and such.

- Also, with huge ports located on the GJ coastline (Mundra, Pipavav), this expressway will provide a reduced transit time for transport, which can hugely complement the already (partially) operational Western Dedicated Freight Corridor !

To sum up, I'm more excited to see this e-way open end-to-end on priority, than the Delhi-Mumbai and Mumbai-Nagpur e-ways

[OffRoadFun]

Originally Posted by jigar1791@gmail

The Amritsar - Jamnagar E-way is more strategic than utilitarian -

- If we see the alignment of this highway, it covers almost all the districts bordering Pakistan - which generally is not always calm and peaceful.
Result : in an event of conflict, our armed forces can reach to the conflict zone swiftly, improving our deterrence/offensive capabilities.

While it may help a bit strategically, it's objective is still mostly to economically integrate ports of Gujarat with Rajasthan and Punjab. Jamnagar to refinery in Punjab.

It should be noted the highway is Greenfield only in RJ where land is ample. In PB and GJ, existing highway is widened mostly and major parts in PB will not be expressway due to lack of land for acquisition. Though it may appear close to Pak border, it is more than 250 kms away from border in Jaisalmer and around 120km+ in Bikaner district, both strategically important border districts.

The strategic objective for Rajasthan border is met primarily by NH11 which connects Bikaner/Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, its tributary NH911 and NH 70. These connect Pokran range, Naal AFB in Bikaner (close to border from AF standards) Mahajan firing range (biggest firing range for Army). NH11, while not expressway, is sparsely populated with little traffic and (no wonder) very well maintained due to strategic reasons. NH11 terminates close to Delhi, ending in Rewari.

[Roan J]

Originally Posted by Drdriver

Hello fellow bhpians.

Recently I shifted base from Banswara, Rajasthan to Bhatinda, Punjab.
I got to use the Amritsar Jamnagar economic corridor on my route.

Thank you for this update. Is there any exit/entry points at Bikaner. More specifically, is it possible to join this Expressway when coming from Delhi through NH11 and heading for Osian. There could be better alternative routes, but I would like to check out this Expressway. Thank you

[dave7377]

Hi,
Drove on this expressway while coming from Amritsar to Surat.
Route we took
Amritsar- Tarn Taran Faridkot- Bhatinda (NH 54)- 4 lane good road.
Bhatinda- Abohar-Ganganagar-Arjansar-and joined expressway at Jaitpur. (this was on 27 March'24), however lately i have heard that one can join this expressway at CHautala interchange between Mandi Dabwali & Hanumangarh.

Jaitpur-Jodhpur (on Expressway) exited after Osian interchange, the next one after Osian which leads to Jodhpur bypass.

Road is excellent and devoid of traffic but no food options and could see one or two fuel filling stations between Jaitpur & Jodhpur.

Road is operational till Tharad as of now.

[BG96]

Originally Posted by dave7377

Hi,
Drove on this expressway while coming from Amritsar to Surat.
Route we took
Amritsar- Tarn Taran Faridkot- Bhatinda (NH 54)- 4 lane good road.
Bhatinda- Abohar-Ganganagar-Arjansar-and joined expressway at Jaitpur. (this was on 27 March'24), however lately i have heard that one can join this expressway at CHautala interchange between Mandi Dabwali & Hanumangarh.

Jaitpur-Jodhpur (on Expressway) exited after Osian interchange, the next one after Osian which leads to Jodhpur bypass.

Road is excellent and devoid of traffic but no food options and could see one or two fuel filling stations between Jaitpur & Jodhpur.

Road is operational till Tharad as of now.

Thanks for the update. I am planing for Johpur to Jamangar next week. Where do i get into this expresssway from Jodhpur?

Also what about the roads after Tharad? Is it 4 lane highways? When did you take this route?

Thanks in advance

[dave7377]

hi,
I will reply pointwise to your query starting from Tharad.

1. Tharad to Sanchore: Latest update is that road (E-way) is unofficially open. People are driving on it, though at some places there are earth mounds kept as barricades but people are driving over it.

2. Sanchore to Sangana Toll PLaza (Jeewana): There are lots of diversion on e-way. It is completed in parts and it is not advisable to travel on it yet.

3. Sangana Toll Plaza to Mandi Dabwali: Approx 570 kms of complete e-way.

I drove from Hanumangarh exit to Jodhpur in end March'24 and recently in May first week one of my friend went from Sangana Toll Plaza to Amritsar.

Entering the E-way from Jodhpur: Since i was staying in Fairfield Marriott on Jodhpur Bypass, i took Deogarh exit and Jodhpur bypass to enter into Jodhpur.

You can either take this or you have to join this e-way at Osian /Sirmandi.

[abhi_tjet]

I used the expressway for my Punjab trip and enjoyed it thoroughly.

For my onward journey, entered the Eway from Deoghar(Jodhpur) cut and left from Panditanwali(some 25 kms before Hanumangarh) exit.

I used Deshnok (Bikaner) exit/entry since Linea was almost dry. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise since it enabled me to pay a visit to Karni Mata temple which is at stone’s throw from exit. Petrol pump too was just around the exit.

It actually happened that all the petrol pumps (at least 3) prior to Eway entry were closed at around 6:30 AM. The 1 petrol pump available was still around 40 kms from Deshnok cut which I was unsure of. Though the car has safe range left of exactly around 50 kms, I erred on the side of caution.

As per initial Eway plan there is no dedicated Hanumangarh exit. However, looks like locals have raised objection and there might be an exit alignment soon.

For return, did some Gmaps exploration and found that there is a Chautala entry/exit which can be used to enter or exit Eway.

I have added the location in Gmaps. Hopefully, it will be approved soon so it’s visible to other drivers as well.

Also, thought to explore some internal Rajasthan route and accordingly took the Sangna exit to reach Ahmedabad via Palanpur .

Some points -
1. Not sure if speed cams are working. I found only 20% of people observing speed limit.

2. Traffic is still less. Trucks occupy first lane here as well.

3. By taking support from railing people have opened small makeshift shops to serve tea and some breakfast. In foggy conditions, or in general - if low visibility, avoid last lane.

4. On the topic of tea, there are no restaurants operational barring one near Bikaner at Norangdesar. I haven’t personally used there services though.

5. Similarly, only 1 place of operational fuel bunk which belong to Jio-BP at same location. However, it’s present at both side and there is an underpass provided to choose service from any one.

6. One has to compulsorily exit Eway at Sangna, pay toll and enter again to continue till Bagoda.

Took some pictures and a video. Sharing some of them.

Sunrise while crossing into Rajasthan from Chautala.

https://youtu.be/hS003xhegJQ?si=RwpfSBJz6TmgTrDo

Linea at Deshnok(Bikaner) cut.




Stopped for a tea break at rest area approach/exit road since there was no rest area apart from the signage




The only rest area for the entire stretch between Sangna and Chautala which has a operational bunk, washrooms and restaurant


Mine was the only LMV. Find the Tjet


Hope this helps some fellow travellers.

[wanderernomad]

Guys planning to drive to Bengaluru from Jammu in March and this highway looks very promising especially since I cannot take my GV into NCR.
@abhi-tjet how much time did it take you from Jodhpur to Bathinda ?
Starting from Amritsar possible to hit Jodhpur by the end of day?

[abhi_tjet]

Originally Posted by wanderernomad

@abhi-tjet how much time did it take you from Jodhpur to Bathinda ?
Starting from Amritsar possible to hit Jodhpur by the end of day?

Hi wanderernomad, the access controlled Eway is operational from Mandi Dabwali, prior to that is a normal 4 lane highway which includes Bathinda. Traffic is generally less in this part of our country so the progress would be swift.

The max portion of Eway which I utilised was from Chautala till Sangna(approx 120 kms ahead of Jodhpur(Deogarh) exit). Accordingly it took me a bit less than 5 hrs from Chautala till Deoghar exit which is around 450 kms approx.

Arriving Jodhpur from Amritsar by evening should be easily doable since once on Eway, maintaining 100kmph is quite simple. I doubt if it will take you more than 10-12 hrs to complete the distance without much hurry.