Team-BHP - All Roads to Kerala

Quote:

Originally Posted by longhorn (Post 4538109)

When you drive long distance, its the average speed that matters most. This is what takes a royal beating once you enter Kerala. Signals are dime a dozen between Walayar and Palakkad, so people tend to step on the gas .

That is very much true after driving from Hyderabad when we enter Kerala we have slow down our speeds and average speeds takes a beating. While going traveled early morning and from Coimbatore bypass to Angamaly could do in 2.15 minutes whereas while coming back the same distance took 3.30 minutes during the day
Signals and the speed guns make the difference.

Multiple news sources are reporting that the Ponnarimangalam Toll Plaza on NH 966A (Container Road; northern ring road from Kalamassery to Vallarpadam in Kochi) will start operating from Thursday 7/2/19. Toll rates can be had from the TIS.

Eg: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities...le26073531.ece

For most people this toll plaza is out of the way. I think people going to the tourist spots in Marine Drive, Fort Kochi and the beaches of Vypin and to the High Court of Kerala, Ernakulam's two major railway stations and two major hospitals - Aster Medicity and Amrita Hospital - are the ones affected.

Bulk of the revenue would be from container trucks from/to the Vallarpadam transhipment terminal, for whose benefit this road was built in the first place.

The speed cameras are quite efficient and if you violate the speed limits, you will get fined. Quite good. However, the wait at the toll plazas is unnecessary, as similar cameras can capture the registration number and send you the toll bill. If only the NHAI and other toll operators could do this, we need not stop or even slow down to pay toll.

The traffic lights on the highway, though cumbersome, could be syncrhronised to the speed limit, so that once you have a green signal, it remains green for you at all subsequent traffic lights provided the speed limit is observed.

Using available technology, driving on the Kerala highways can be made speedier.

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Originally Posted by Sree73 (Post 4547098)

What is the road conditions?

Someone I know took it couple of months back and said it's in good condition.

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Originally Posted by NPV (Post 4549708)

Any updates on the road closure(s) due to forest fires in Bandipur and surrounding areas ?

Saw news article about Bandipur - Mudumalai route closed yesterday. No issues on Wayand route. There were reports of fire around Banasura area too, though it doesn't come on NH212.

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Originally Posted by i20ian (Post 4559918)

Dear bhpians.. What is the road condition to Munnar from Udumalpet. Any updates? Planning to drive tomorrow.

Drove in December. Was fantastic from Udumalpet till Marayoor(Narrow in the forest section). Was patchy between Marayoor and Munnar, but work was happening and maybe better now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by binand (Post 4538461)

Multiple news sources are reporting that the Ponnarimangalam Toll Plaza on NH 966A (Container Road; northern ring road from Kalamassery to Vallarpadam in Kochi) will start operating from Thursday 7/2/19. Toll rates can be had from the TIS.

Bulk of the revenue would be from container trucks from/to the Vallarpadam transhipment terminal, for whose benefit this road was built in the first place.

Had taken this route last week. The toll seems to be only for the trucks. They were letting all other traffic pass on both directions but there we signboards with the fare for all vehicle types ready to be put up though.

Drove on this road after around 3 months. Felt like they finally did smooth out the approaches to those expansion joints & those numerous bumps.

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Originally Posted by pramodpk (Post 4560817)

Any updates on the condition of road between Vadakkencherry & Mannuthy? How is Kuthiran? And how is the situation(long queue) in toll booths on Coimbatore L & T bypass?

Roads are good throughout. There are few diversions between Vadakkencherry and Mannuthy (few flyovers are still under construction). Kuthiran is good as well but can slow you down depending on the traffic (but not as bad as before). L&T also can slow you depending on the traffic and since they need to scan the toll receipt at each toll booth. And once you enter KL, the traffic signals will be a pain.

I am driving along this route next week and shall update the latest conditions.

Drove from Thiruvananthapuram to Parambikulam Tiger reserve on March15-16 and returned on March 17. We started from Thiruvananthapuram at 1445 hours and took the MC road to Ettumanur and then to Muvattupuzha-Angamali-Thrissur and had a night halt at Highway Palace Inn at Pattikkad at about 2245. The road was good throughout and as the night came on, traffic thinned and we could drive at decent speed. This hotel has plenty of parking space and is fairly good and spacious.
The next day we left at 0700 and took the Kuthiran-Vadakkancherry-Nenmara route and arrived at 1100 hours at the accommodation for the night Tree Top. The road was good and freshly tarred throughout.
On the return we left at 1300 hours from the Parambikulam reception and it was a fast drive with nearly empty roads and reached Thiruvananthapuram at 2215 hours. We stopped for a snack break, diesel filling and dinner break. We did not experience the usual traffic jam at Perumbavoor and Muvattupuzha due to the late hour and it being Sunday.

Overall a very nice and fast drive. Kuthiran is far more streamlined than it used to be. However, a slow moving truck going uphill can immobolise all following traffic.