[Madrasin_selvan]

I agree on the part that STRR can diversify the traffic flowing, but for it there should be viable alternatives linking STRR and Whitefield or by large the ORR areas, If this does not happen then Hoskote will get clogged. Currently, there are very few roads crossing STRR and all of them look like village roads which cannot handle high traffic. Hope the authorities wake up to this and either expand the existing roads or create one more alternative road.





Green arrow indicates one of the existing roads.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Madrasin_selvan

Currently, there are very few roads crossing STRR and all of them look like village roads which cannot handle high traffic. Hope the authorities wake up to this and either expand the existing roads or create one more alternative road.

One option I see is: Exit expressway to STRR and then exit STRR On Baglur Malur road and drive to Chikka Tirupati and there on to Whitefield or Sarjapur.

Yes today we dont have a clear solution.

[gajadonga]

I think there are reports that Karnataka side of the expressway is almost ready .
If its open then then driving from Northern part of India will become easier.
I think the Expressway is somewhere close to KGF so that I can use the Devanahalli - Hoskote - KGF - Kuppam - Krishnagiri so that can avoid the huge volume of traffic and jams due road construction between Hosur and Krishnagiri.Will save a lot of running time too.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by gajadonga

I can use the Devanahalli - Hoskote - KGF - Kuppam - Krishnagiri.

The KA section ends few kms short of Venkatagirikota. So that connecting road is the only unknown. Venkatagirikota-Krishnagiri is excellent wide 2-lane. The only time I did in 2021, there were some shoulder work happening at places, but that did not disturb the traffic movement that much.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by gajadonga

If its open then then driving from Northern part of India will become easier.
I think the Expressway is somewhere close to KGF so that I can use the Devanahalli - Hoskote - KGF - Kuppam - Krishnagiri so that can avoid the huge volume of traffic and jams due road construction between Hosur and Krishnagiri.Will save a lot of running time too.

Its a huge detour in my opinion. If you are doing this in day time, my suggestion still would be Devanahalli-Hoskote-Malur-Masti-Berigai-Shoolagiri.

Thats the best optimization what we can do. Beyond Shoolagiri its not that bad.

The only negative I hear is Hoskote-Malur despite being a 4-lane, has pot potholes. And of course Malur-Shoolagiri are country side roads.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by ampere

Its a huge detour in my opinion. If you are doing this in day time, my suggestion still would be Devanahalli-Hoskote-Malur-Masti-Berigai-Shoolagiri.

Devanahalli-Hoskote - 30 min
Hoskote-V Kota - 1:15 hr (expecting 1 hr for the 71 km expressway section and 15 min from BCE exit to V Kota junction)
V Kota-Krishnagiri - 1:10 hr

That's about 2:55 hrs of mild traffic roads.

This is how much time it would take if you go through the city-Hosur or go via Berigai-Shoolagiri, which doesn't have bypasses.

This would potentially be the faster route for KL and TN destinations (except Kanchipuram, Madras and Tiruvallur district).

Only truck traffic uses the Venkatagirikota-Krishnagiri road. It remains to be seen how it'll handle if north and east Bangaloreans use this to reach Krishnaigiri in holiday season.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Only truck traffic uses the Venkatagirikota-Krishnagiri road. It remains to be seen how it'll handle if north and east Bangaloreans use this to reach Krishnaigiri in holiday season.

Definitely worth a try! If like you said the coast is clear and one does not need to deal with Bangalore-Krisnagiri traffic nothing like it!

One should take the second exit post STRR at Sundarapalaya and drive to V-Kota. This should be about 40-60km detour on the expressway.

[SourPai]

Originally Posted by Madrasin_selvan

I agree on the part that STRR can diversify the traffic flowing, but for it there should be viable alternatives linking STRR and Whitefield or by large the ORR areas, If this does not happen then Hoskote will get clogged. Currently, there are very few roads crossing STRR and all of them look like village roads which cannot handle high traffic. Hope the authorities wake up to this and either expand the existing roads or create one more alternative road.

Green arrow indicates one of the existing roads.

I agree with you and hope it happens, but highly doubt that will happen as creating a wide road connecting ORR to STRR will require significant amount of land acquisition, which does not happen easily here

IMO all the energies will be spent in PRR land acquisition for now, if it all true as per current rumours

[ampere]

Originally Posted by SourPai

I agree with you and hope it happens, but highly doubt that will happen as creating a wide road connecting ORR to STRR will require significant amount of land acquisition, which does not happen easily here

The whole idea of STRR is for non-bangalore traffic to run around Bangalore and not into Bangalore. So I dont think there will be plan to connect STRR to ORR.

If that happens, then be assured STRR will become the new ORR!

[SourPai]

Originally Posted by ampere

The whole idea of STRR is for non-bangalore traffic to run around Bangalore and not into Bangalore. So I dont think there will be plan to connect STRR to ORR.

If that happens, then be assured STRR will become the new ORR!

Agree with you, but STRR is already connected to ORR via KR Puram road and the problem is that it is the only proper road connecting to it. So everyone in Bangalore has to join via that road by traversing dense traffic.

They should ideally plan one more connection to STRR towards south side of Bangalore somewhere between Varthur area and Sarjapur / Bagalur area to enable effective connectivity for those who want to connect to STRR and bypass bangalore. But I guess thats not going to happen anytime soon.

Existing areas such as Bagalur junction etc are going to be further choked once the next section opens up in March 2025

[Imminent1776]

I drove on STRR road today and the expressway is blocked off at the Hoskote interchange, where the Bengaluru-Chennai expressway starts. Is there an alternate entrance to the expressway?

[gops619]

The Karnataka stretch is now officially open per NHAI. Not sure how it helps Chennai bound traffic, it does help a bit traffic towards Shoolagiri. Hope the expressway opens till Mogili atleast at earliest.

[ssbiitm]

Am planning to drive to Yelahanka from Chennai next weekend. Heard that the Bethamangala - Hoskote expressway is now open for traffic. Would it make sense for me to follow:
Chennai -> Vellore -> Katpadi -> Gudiyatham -> Venkatagirikota -> Bethamangala on the new expressway -> Hoskote -> Devanahalli -> Yelahanka

Any idea if this is a sensible option at the present time? My other option is of course the usual chennai -> Katpadi -> Chittoor -> Mulbagal -> Hoskote - Devanahalli -> Yelahanka that I have been using.

The thought of using the new expressway is too tempting! Just fitted new Goodyear tyres to my Baleno and so, the itch to try this route is high!!

Appreciate any and all advice :-)

ssbiitm

[Imminent1776]

I drove on the Karnataka stretch today. Some observations:

- Only the left side of the highway (towards Chennai) appears to be accessible -- cars are driving in both directions on the same left road. Feels a bit sketchy.

- Most of the exits aren't usable

It's fun to drive on, but I don't think it's that useful yet.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by Imminent1776

I drove on the Karnataka stretch today. Some observations:

- Only the left side of the highway (towards Chennai) appears to be accessible -- cars are driving in both directions on the same left road. Feels a bit sketchy.

- Most of the exits aren't usable

It's fun to drive on, but I don't think it's that useful yet.

That's the status for past 2 months even though the expressway is ready.
Bangalore to Bethmangala is where traffic moves. The otherside towards Bangalore there were stone barricades and only two wheelers can go and not cars. So better to stick to one side for cars, though bikes can go in both directions by and large.

Hope they would have removed barricades towards bangalore side.

-Ravi