[NPV]

Originally Posted by Wind

I noticed a new Rajabhojanam hotel about 500 meters away from A2B Thoppur on the road towards Bangalore. Has anyone got any update on this place? If this place is decent with clean rest rooms it would be a much needed alternative to A2B.

Originally Posted by ampere

It is supposed to be very good. Clean toilets as well. I read quite many folks mentioning about it.

@ranjitp1 reported this earlier on the thread, according to him this is definitely a good alternative to the 'A2B refugee camp'
Now I think we have really good alternatives to the A2B in both directions right on NH7 itself. While going towards Salem we have Sree Saravana Bhavan and Aryaas near Krishnagiri and in the other direction we have Sree Saravana Bhavan at Sankagiri and Rajabhojanam at Thoppur.

[coolclouds]

Originally Posted by Wind

I noticed a new Rajabhojanam hotel about 500 meters away from A2B Thoppur on the road towards Bangalore. Has anyone got any update on this place? If this place is decent with clean rest rooms it would be a much needed alternative to A2B.

-- Wind

We had food there once and IIRC, its a pure veg hotel.

[coolclouds]

Any updates on Mettur route? I am doing Cochin -Bangalore after sometime today.

[jacs]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Any updates on Mettur route? I am doing Cochin -Bangalore after sometime today.

Coolclouds - Its worth if you take Mettur route and update all . No doubt it was our preferred route during 2006 -2008 timeline while Salem 4 laning was happening. Haven't tried after that.

However I enquired with a Kallada standby driver recently, he is also sceptical about the worth of taking this route as the direction from their company is straight route even now.

[sj_koova]

Any updates on "theni-bodi-poopara-rajakad-adimali-kothamangalam"?

I saw few posts about roadwork in March.

Anybody did this recently (late April)?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Any updates on Mettur route? I am doing Cochin -Bangalore after sometime today.

Any reasons to take the route? I dont think it would say times these days to go via Mettur.

Originally Posted by sj_koova

Any updates on "theni-bodi-poopara-rajakad-adimali-kothamangalam"?

This is what @M35 mentioned in his log.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ml#post3048369

[bejoy]

Originally Posted by ampere

Any reasons to take the route? I dont think it would say times these days to go via Mettur.

One reason could be the 6-laning work on Hosur-Krishnagiri stretch, meaning lot of deviations.

@coolclouds, would love to hear the updates. I am travelling to Kochi tomorrow.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by bejoy

One reason could be the 6-laning work on Hosur-Krishnagiri stretch, meaning lot of deviations.

I would say, its much better nowadays. Even though there are deviations, but they can be easily managed.

[ramzsys]

While returning from CBE, i took Sathy-Athani-Mettur-Thoppur-NH7, avoiding NH209 only because of the election related checking.

Road gets better after Ammapettai(newly tarred) but watch out for speedbreakers near schools. After Mettur it is 'just ok'. If anyone want to avoid toll, take the left at Mecheri and proceed to Pennagaram-Rayakottai-Hosur. Road is good with no traffic(i traveled last month).

Mettur had a bit of traffic(evening hours).

2 Wheelers everywhere on TN roads, NIL response to the horn.

4.5 hours from Coimbatore to A2B, Thoppur with 80 kmph top speed-very relaxed drive.

Thoppur ghat section roads are rough! No traffic in any toll booths though.

[kala]

Originally Posted by ramzsys

While returning from CBE, i took Sathy-Athani-Mettur-Thoppur-NH7, avoiding NH209 only because of the election related checking.

Interestingly, there wasn't too much of checking today when I took NH209 on my way back from a trip to Cochin. On my forward journey I was stopped at least 8-10 times, but only twice today, and they didn't even ask me to open the boot both times.

Took the Mannuthy-Palghat section of NH47 just to check out how the situation is. Pretty ordinary road surface with plenty of potholes between Mannuthy and Vadakkencherry, road is better from there till Palghat. The 60 km stretch took me around 1 hr 20 minutes at 6:30 AM, more or the same that can be achieved for the detour through Shoranur at that time of the day.

[coolclouds]

I did Kochi-Bangalore via Trichur-Mannuthy-Palakkad-Coimbatore-Satyamangalam-Anthiyur-Mettur-Thoppur. Planned to take Rayakkottai route but stuck on to NH7 beyond Thoppur.

Coimbatore (PSG college/Arvind eye hospital) Jn-Annur: Good surface, moderate traffic
Annur-Satyamangalam: Excellent
Satyamangalam -Anthiyur: Good, few bridges under construction
Anthiyur -Mettur : Good roads, sparse traffic
Mettur-Thoppur : Good, last 3-4 Kms near Thoppur not smooth, no potholes. Local Traffic relatively high. I expected more truck traffic but was very less.

Slower route compared to NH7 but Mettur-Bhavani may be considered as an alternate just for a change.

I paid Rs. 100 at Thoppur toll and the guy returned just Rs. 20 and receipt for Rs. 79 without saying a word. While asking he said "no change"

Again, at Attibelle the guy returned Rs. 24 and Rs. 25 ticket without a word. Reason, no change. I insisted on balance and he immediately returned Rs. 5 coin and said sorry. Looks like these guys are making some quick money. Better they make the toll rates to round figures!

[ramzsys]

Originally Posted by kala

On my forward journey I was stopped at least 8-10 times, but only twice today, and they didn't even ask me to open the boot both times.

Surprising! While moving towards TN, i saw they were even video recording the contents of the cars proceeding towards Bangalore.

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Slower route compared to NH7 but Mettur-Bhavani may be considered as an alternate just for a change.

Road from Bhavani till Ammapettai was rough- this was about an year back.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Slower route compared to NH7 but Mettur-Bhavani may be considered as an alternate just for a change.

Many folks around North CBE can also try :

Drive on Mettupalayam road to Karamadai.

Then Sirumugai-Sathy- And then either on NH209 or Athani/Bhavani etc.

[arjithin]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Slower route compared to NH7 but Mettur-Bhavani may be considered as an alternate just for a change.

i wouldn't suggest this route at all, i took this route in Jan 2013 and the road was bad with lot of rough sections and potholes.

[sansvk]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Better they make the toll rates to round figures!

OT, Even better to offer e-cards/OBU card reader or whatever its called. How much does it take for them to upgrade?
Regular users or even one time users would really find it useful if the card purchase is a one time affair followed by internet recharge options.