[Innysta]

What happened to the Vellore-Krishnagiri usual route? I did use it during Sep'24 in the reverse route (Hosur-Krishnagiri-Vellore) and found OK.

[raju2512]

Did Chennai - Kolar - Chennai trip on 4th April.

Left Chennai (Nanganallur) at 5:15 am. Route taken: Tambaram-Manimangalam-Sriperumpudur - Walaja- Ranipet - Bommasamudram - Chitoor- Naraspura Industrial Area

Reached by 10:30 am with breakfast stop at Amirtha Restaurant Ranipet.

Checked GMAP which didn't show any traffic pile up near Bomma samudram. I knew that the level crossing could be closed for Rameshwaram - Tirupati Express to pass. It was indeed closed but as a surprise the late running Kerala Express to Trivandrum also crossed. Luckily even after two trains passing in succession, the pile up was only a few vehicles and crossed the gate within 10 minutes.

The return was by same route. Left at 2:30 pm and reached home at 8:15 pm and without any break. Got caught in heavy traffic from Tambaram (took 1 hr 30 mis from Manimangalam to home)

The diversions between Sriperumpudur to Walaja didn't cause much delay. In some of the places the work has been stopped for almost 2 years, Highways could just demolish the built structures and open the road to traffic.

[rkv_2401]

Hey all,

I'm planning to take this route starting from Chennai tomorrow evening around 4PM. I was advised to check out this thread by BHPian ravib. Thanks to everyone for contributing the huge amounts of information shared here!

Here are two map plots, Adyar - Vellore and Vellore - Chittoor - Hoskote.





Do these seem right? Which route is ideal for Chennai - Vellore to avoid potholes? It appears to skip Bommasamudram, which sounds like a pain point. Any suggestions for rest stops at or after crossing Vellore?

This is my first time on this route, and I am traveling late in the evening/night (which I rarely do). So any other pointers would be greatly appreciated. One thing I remember struggling with the last time I traveled to Bangalore in late 2022 were those awful potholes on the Krishnagiri route - and that was during daylight, I fear that they'll be even harder to spot at night.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by rkv_2401

Hey all,

I'm planning to take this route starting from Chennai tomorrow evening around 4PM. I was advised to check out this thread by BHPian ravib. Thanks to everyone for contributing the huge amounts of information shared here!

Here are two map plots, Adyar - Vellore and Vellore - Chittoor - Hoskote.

Attachment 2747104

Attachment 2747105

Do these seem right? Which route is ideal for Chennai - Vellore to avoid potholes? It appears to skip Bommasamudram, which sounds like a pain point. Any suggestions for rest stops at or after crossing Vellore?

This is my first time on this route, and I am traveling late in the evening/night (which I rarely do). So any other pointers would be greatly appreciated. One thing I remember struggling with the last time I traveled to Bangalore in late 2022 were those awful potholes on the Krishnagiri route - and that was during daylight, I fear that they'll be even harder to spot at night.

You can't escape Madras-Vellore diversions and pain all the way till Chennasamudram. There aren't major potholes to worry about, but diversions are definitely there - atleast 15+. Check my previous post for the count Worst part of the road is from Sriperumbudur to Kanchipuram-Damal section and then slowly road conditions improve with less diversions.

From the screenshot, the map seems to be correct, but it is always advisable to share the gmaps link than a screenshot.

As you are traveling in dark, and starting around 4 pm


3 weeks back i drove and started from Pallavaram around 4.30 pm on a sunday eveinng and reaching KR Puram junction around 10.30 pm including 30 minutes dinner break.


I've shared the link you can take between Adayar to Hoskote toll plaza and then add your destination in Bangalore.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Pp46BPFz1K4MLiiH8


Few important things to watch out for, as you are driving in this route first time. I wouldn't prefer you to take the first drive in the night itself, but seems you don't have much choice.

1) After you cross Katpadi and drive towards Chittoor, traffic significantly reduces and don't stop anywhere in middle of the roads. Stop only in big restaurants.
2) Once you cross Gudipala and drive towards chittoor, there is a small section of highway where both direction traffic are allowed in same side of the road. So don't over speed and keep the speedo below 100 in left lane.
3) For your convenience I've marked two stops for food, but you choose as per your dinner timing preference.
a) Nandi Food Plaza in left side after crossing Mahasamudram toll plaza, somewhere about 10 kms or 5 to 10 mts drive.
b) Muruguan Idli shop in opposite side (need to take a short U turn to reach other side) in before Kolar.

4) After crossing Nandi Food Plaza and Bangarupalayam and Mogli village, slow down drastically to cross the Mogli ghat section up hill drive and watch out for truck traffic. As it is a steep climb, (similar to Thoppur ghats) , Mogli to Palamaner ghats are also now almost in similar state with rumblers, so trucks and buses will be driving very slow in both lanes and cars will be zipping in between them. So you better slow down and let go others who are in hurry. Drive carefully.

5) Similarly after crossing Palamaner bypsass and driving in isolated ghat section towards Andhra/KA border , keep your speed in control even though roads are empty.

6) Suggest you drive always between 90 kmph to 110 kmph in this road, unlike the Ambur/Krishnagiri route, where people do very high speeds.

7) As you enter KA, there are bridge constructions and diversions in this route as well, but they are not that painful like in Krishnagiri route and can pass through each of them in less than 5 minutes.

8) As you enter KA in Nangli Toll Plaza, and there after, there are enough restaurants all on the left side, and if you need to break for rest stops, you can do so. Nothing to worry.

Drive Safe !

-Ravi

[chetan]

How is the Bangalore - Kanchipuram route at the moment ?

[sameerchavan]

I have tried all 4 routes and did not find any good route. There is problem between chittore and ranipet. There is railway crossoing and the road is under costruction. But this was supposed to be the best fastest route. Do not go through route 3 where is a loanly ghat.

[rkv_2401]

Originally Posted by ravib

You can't escape Madras-Vellore diversions and pain all the way till Chennasamudram. There aren't major potholes to worry about, but diversions are definitely there - atleast 15+. Check my previous post for the count Worst part of the road is from Sriperumbudur to Kanchipuram-Damal section and then slowly road conditions improve with less diversions.

From the screenshot, the map seems to be correct, but it is always advisable to share the gmaps link than a screenshot.

As you are traveling in dark, and starting around 4 pm

I've shared the link you can take between Adayar to Hoskote toll plaza and then add your destination in Bangalore.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Pp46BPFz1K4MLiiH8

Drive Safe !

-Ravi

Thanks for this! Wish I'd seen it before starting.

I took the Ranipet-Chittoor route, joining the Katpadi-Chittoor road via NH40. I started at 3:15PM, and the 11 or so diversions meant that I only reached Murugan Idly shop outside Kanchipuram at 5:40. I was stuck behind a slow moving truck in the well-lit sections before the ghats, passed him 20 mins later only to face HEAVY winds and moderate bursts of rain on the Ranipet-Chittoor ghat sections. The crosswinds were heavy enough to sway a loaded car w/ 4 pax, but the bikers and cyclists were somehow able to keep it on the road even in these conditions and despite being blinded by the rain (no helmet ofc) - tremendous respect to them.

Google Maps randomly redirected the route without informing us, so that instead of continuing to Chittoor on the NH40 route, it turned right at a random point (with loads of concrete walls on the road acting as a barricade) before the RTO checkpost. This was the only scary moment of the ride, the road was not lit at all, moderate rains, there was next to no traffic and it was narrow + two-lane so I couldn't turn around either. Found the "suggested" route back to NH40, which was literally abandoned and only suitable for bikes in the best of times, used it to take a U-turn, then hightailed it out of there.

Then, after more rains and some bad roads for 10km until meeting the Katpadi-Chittoor route, it was good for a while until around 30 mins after crossing Chittoor. At this point, we got pelted with extremely heavy rains, visibility dropped to <10m, and some other vehicles stopped altogether, but I was able to soldier on at 50km/hr. Even with the fog lamps on, I could only just about make out where the end of the road was at this speed.

I only hit 100km/hr in the last hour and a half of the journey.
Eventually reached Hoskote around 10:30PM, much later than I'd anticipated, with my Carbon Steel Vento resembling the Toffee Brown colour more than black. It was quite an eventful first drive on this road!

On the way back (Bangalore-Chittoor-Ranipet-Chennai):

i) There was a great restaurant, VVR Sri Srinivasa Grand (not affiliated in any way), just before the Nangli toll plaza when going from Mulbagal to Chittoor. GMaps inexplicably tells you to cross the toll and then take a U-turn, costing you an extra ~150Rs. for no reason.

They had great service and some delicious paneer butter masala, the best meal I've had in a few months now, but they don't accept card payments AFAIK - only UPI and cash. Other dishes may be on the spicy side.

ii) There are some high-speed downhill ghat sections where everyone is racing around in, located about an hour - 1.5 hours from Mulbagal that suddenly, and with no clear warning, turn into rumbler strip territory. I guess these are the Mogli to Palamaner ghats that BHPian ravib warned me about in his post.

These rumblers are very intense, I had to take them at ~10km/hr in a sedan (Vento). A truck had also broken it's wheel on these rumblers. I don't understand why they need to be so intense.

I saw a Baleno racing with a Thar go over them at 50, and while the Thar kept pushing, the Baleno slowed down to normal speeds soon after.

iii) There's a section after Chittoor where the traffic suddenly becomes two-direction. I guess this is the Gudipala to Chittoor section. I'd read about this in earlier posts by BHPians, but it still catches you by surprise because there are no warnings or markings on the road AFAIK. Stay careful on the blind curves and the hilly section here!

iv) I only encountered this on the day I came back (16th April), but there were some sort of concrete barricades on the NH40 ~10kms from the RTO checkpost on the Chittoor-Ranipet road, near the section where the road is completely dug up for some infrastructure work. The gap between the barricades was just about sufficient for commuter cars to squeeze through, with the ORVMs closed. A Fortuner got stuck here for 5 mins.

v) The Ranipet-Chennai section is much better than I remember it being. There are still diversions, but there are also some beautiful, well-lit 6-lane expressways between the diversions. And there are no serious potholes in the diversions either.

Took the Kundrathur route to escape the Ayyapanthangal-St.Thomas Mount metro work. The Chennai ORR from near Kundrathur to Tambaram is a thing of beauty. It's not well-lit, but you can use cruise control pretty much throughout this road!

[TankandButter]

I just travelled through the NH40 earlier this morning. Must say that the spot after the RTO check-post where the concrete barricades are kept, has a gap which is very very tricky, my Windsor passed through with great difficulty.

Would suggest everyone to take the Katpadi-Chittoor route instead, for peace of mind.

Started from OMR(Navalur) at 0330 took the Vandalur-Manimangalam-Ranipet-Chittoor-Kolar-Devanahalli route and reached Bengaluru(Mall of Asia) at 1030 with 2 stops in between for charging/breakfast.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by sameerchavan

I have tried all 4 routes and did not find any good route. There is problem between chittore and ranipet. There is railway crossoing and the road is under costruction. But this was supposed to be the best fastest route. Do not go through route 3 where is a loanly ghat.

Try this option as shown:
I updated your snapshot. Cross Chitoor town, the SH to Ponnai. Once you cross the bridge take the road back to Ranipet. This would avoid the bad construction on NH40.

[Apolo4409]

Originally Posted by ampere

Try this option as shown:
I updated your snapshot. Cross Chitoor town, the SH to Ponnai. Once you cross the bridge take the road back to Ranipet. This would avoid the bad construction on NH40.

Attachment 2750557

We just drove from Chennai to Bangalore this Saturday. The half-baked expressway is a great option for a bit of stress-free travel. The Andra routes have always had some negative experiences for me, at least with broken roads and road users with no etiquette. To access the NE7, we had to go through a few hairpin turns, which was a great break from the constant diversions and slowdowns during the day. The hair pins are tight and small, and should be handled with care, but it’s still fun if you keep safety in mind. The NE7 stretch is mostly empty for all intents and purposes, and you can sit on cruise control at 120 for 40-50 minutes and reach Hoskote instantly. This is made even better because most of the route has little to no tolls.

[Ananthponraj]

Originally Posted by Apolo4409

This is made even better because most of the route has little to no tolls.

I assume you would have entered at Sundrapalya and exited at Hoskote Interchange. There are already 2 tolls for this ~70 kms stretch one at the entry point in Sundrapalya and next one at 55kms from there. We will get to know the charges once the toll becomes operational.

[Apolo4409]

Originally Posted by Ananthponraj

I assume you would have entered at Sundrapalya and exited at Hoskote Interchange. There are already 2 tolls for this ~70 kms stretch one at the entry point in Sundrapalya and next one at 55kms from there. We will get to know the charges once the toll becomes operational.

Yes, the toll plazas are present but for the time being until they become operational we get to travel that stretch for free and save a bit on both fuel and tolls