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NH-66 widening work in progress, between Parippally and Kadambattukonam in Kollam district:

Planning a drive to Pondicherry from Kollam. Google maps suggests the following routes:

Route 1 Kollam>Punalur>Tenkasi>Rajapalayam>Madurai> Pondy

Route 2 Kollam>Pathanamthitta>Erumeli>Kumily>Cumbum>Theni> Trichy>Pondy

Route 1 is shorter but the roads on climb up and down Thenmala ghats was chock full of gigantic potholes when I last traveled this way.

Route 2 would have better roads I assume.

Any updates / suggestions?

Hi team,

I am driving down from hyderabad to bangalore with family. We have often taken the hyderabad -kurnool -anantapur - bangalore -krishnagiri - salem - coimbatore - palakkad - thrissur - ernakulam

Two major concerns, water logging in bangalore outskirts, anyway to avoid this? Any parts of kerala in route below which are might be water logged or bad roads. I have been trying to get updates on bharat jodo yatra too so i dont get stranded on the road for long.

Regards,
Akash

I don't think there is any waterlogging issue right now anywhere along the route you have mentioned.

BJY is currently in Kochi and will proceed along the NH 544 for the next few days. It is expected to exit Kerala on 29/9 via Nilambur-Mysore. I don't have any clarity on the route it plans to take beyond Thrissur though.

I will be traveling from Bangalore and crossing the CBE on way to Kerala on Saturday (24-Sep) between 4-6 PM. How is traffic around this time ? Is it worth skipping and taking any alternative route? Please suggest.

Crossing Coimbatore would not be a hassle if through L&T Bypass. Within Kerala, there will be a small stretch around 5-7 Km before Palakkad where traffic will show red. This is due to diversion of traffic due to road works. The stretch of 2 km may take about 10-12 minutes to cross in car. Much lesser on two wheeler.

Any recent updates on this route.
Planning to take Madurai - Rajapalayam - Tenkasi - Punalur - Kottarakkara route next week.

I did Tenkasi-Kollam on 4th Sep - the roads on the TN side are not at their best and the climb up to Thenmala was chock full of man sized potholes.

I am also looking for a more recent update.

Driving from Bangalore to TVM with family. Stop over at Coimbatore tonight. Planning to start around 6-7 tomorrow morning. What would be the best route from Coimbatore to Thiruvananthapuram? Google map shows me 3 options thru Thrissur.
1. NH via Ernakulam
2. Pala-Rannni-Pathamthitta
3. MC road- Kottayam - Adoor
Reading this thread, I am thinking 3 is the best option. Any inputs from recent experience would help

To Trivandrum none of the 3 routes are good.

But since you mention an overnight stop at Coimbatore (is it mandatory?) you have no other options

Best Route to TVM still is the Selam, Madurai, Nagercoil, Trivandrum one. You reach in about 10 hours to Nagercoil. Another 2 hours to Trivandrum. 90% 0f roads are really good.

From the 3 routes you mentioned, option 3 would be better. I recently took TVM-Adoor-Thiruvalla-Changanaserry-EKM. Roads are all good except AC road. I should have taken Kottayam route but had to go to Alleppey.

Thanks for the suggestion. Had a chat with a few friends last night and they suggested the same. Took the Dindigul - Madurai - Nagarcoil - TVM route and it was the best thing to do. Started from CMB at 5:45 AM and reached TVM at 1:30 PM. About 45 mins in between from for breakfast and tea. A satisfying lunch at Mani mess at TVM. It’s my first here and I got in since I am a veggie + it was right beside my homestay. Going by the looks, I think it’s a known name around, but even otherwise I recommend this place for veggies who visit Thiruvananthapuram.

Going to Kochi tomorrow. This would be useful, thanks.

My last leg would be from Guruvayur towards Udupi. Any recommendations other than the default NH for this would help.

All the best. Count yourselves lucky if you are able to do the 220 KM in less than 6 hours :Frustrati

Best Regards & Drive Safe

Nightmare fuel right there. Did this stretch twice last month. One via MC and one via NH. One left TVM at 7PM, reached EKM at 12.30AM, the next left TVM at 06AM reached EKM at 11AM!

Makes one wonder, if the roads were wider and better, would the dreaded KSRTC buses drive sanely? Imagine doing this stretch on a daily basis. Enough to drive a man insane!

The potholes in the ghat sections have been patched up. Taken yesterday:


Some terrible sections leading to and leaving Shengottah have also been patched up/relaid. The rest is a mixed bag. Some good sections and some average sections, I felt nowhere it was terrible, mostly manageable.

I drove in the Thenmala to Madurai direction. Vehicle was Safari 2.2 Dicor.

Also, 4-laning work is progressing in the Rajapalayam-Tirumanagalam section. Also read notification for land acquisition for Kollam-Shengottah section of NH-744 will be out by November. Kerala Govt has approved two special offices and necessary staff for land acquisition. So, hoping at least in the next 4 years, Kollam-Thirumangalam will be entirely 4-laned.

Also note that Rajapalayam town roads are a mess. Have been in a dug up state for months.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities...le65903126.ece