[jeevmenon]

We will be arriving at Vashi (MILs/FILs brothers live here) on the NH4 from the south in our car. After an overnight stay, we cross over the Vashi bridge to Kurla/Santacruz and into Juhu. I would like to go to the area where I grew up Juhu-VileParle-Andheri(W)-Versova and then I would like to come back to Ambarnath. So from Andheri to Ambarnath which is the best route?

1. Go Andheri (E), IITB, Kanjurmarg and into the Eastern Express highway and continue on it on the NH3 and NH222 into Kalyan/Ambarnath.

2. Go Andheri (E), IITB, Kanjurmarg and into the Eastern Express highway, Airoli Bridge, Mahape Rd, MIDC pipeline road, Ambarnath.

3. Go Andheri (E), IITB, Kanjurmarg, and into the Eastern Express highway, Bhandup, Thane, Kalwa, Mumbra and south bound into MIDC pipeline Ambarnath.

Or the best option, take the "local" ;-) Its a home-coming this October after 16 yrs!

Thanks.

[kiren]

Option 2 is best via Mhape - Shil phata - katai naka - pipeline road - Ambernath (Anand Nagar MIDC).After 16 years!!! You are going to experience a big change in Mumbai & around.

[Rock 'n' rollz]

Originally Posted by jeevmenon

1. Go Andheri (E), IITB, Kanjurmarg and into the Eastern Express highway and continue on it on the NH3 and NH222 into Kalyan/Ambarnath.

If I were you I would prefer this route. Reaching Kalyan is breeze. 222 is a toll road now. I have no idea about Kalyan-Ambernath stretch though. Should be good.
I would have suggested you to take the GhodBunder road instead of the IITB route, but there are 3/4 flyovers under construction towards the Thane end of the road. So please avoid GB road at all costs and stick to Powai route. There is another flyover under construction at KashiMira.

Originally Posted by jeevmenon

2. Go Andheri (E), IITB, Kanjurmarg and into the Eastern Express highway, Airoli Bridge, Mahape Rd, MIDC pipeline road, Ambarnath.

This would be my second choice. The old Pune-Mumbai highway is being converted to a wide(??) concrete road (Shil Phata junction included). So you can expect traffic jams here and will be competing with Trailors and Trucks for the precious road space.

Originally Posted by jeevmenon

3. Go Andheri (E), IITB, Kanjurmarg, and into the Eastern Express highway, Bhandup, Thane, Kalwa, Mumbra and south bound into MIDC pipeline Ambarnath.

If at all you have to opt for the Shil Phata option, take the Mahape Shil Phata road. (Not sure if you refer this as MIDC Pipeline road in option 2). Basically go for option two.

Originally Posted by jeevmenon

Or the best option, take the "local" ;-)

The most time efficient option given the rainy season. You can certainly opt for it based on your adventure quotient.

All the best...

[jeevmenon]

Thanks Kiran & Rock 'n' Rollz. I was looking for such responses. My day of travel will be a Sunday in October. So no rains & probably less traffic. However, I would love to be on a toll NH - 4 lane - as much as possible.

How's the crowd on roads on a Sunday - relatively quicker to move around I guess. Local and then autos to different places - in an auto the view is hindered. I would like wifey and my daughter to be along-side me (the driver) to show them around from the wind-shield and the front windows all my old hunting places - Mithibai, Juhu beach, Link-road to Seven-Bungalows - meet old-building friends (dont know whos there and whos not,) does that exist still - used to pedal to college on that route, D.N.Nagar - school. Will I ever be able to do all this starting Sunday at Vashi and I need to reach Ambernath in the evening/night. Hey and double-roti at Vile Parle (W), sandwich at Mithibai, Jai Maharashtra Vadapav, Nimboo-pani at Vile Parle (E) railway station, ussal-pav at Andheri station, Sukh Sagar (?) paav-bhaaji. Maan, feeling nostalgic!

[hvkumar]

Traffic is light on Sundays, except in the evening. ideally do all your touring in the morning/afternoon hours.

As Rock n Rollz suggests, avoid GB road.

[jeevmenon]

OK, Thanks. A slight change of plans - start from Vashi on Sunday morning, cross over the bridge, take south bound Eastern express way/NH3 thru Sion, Kings Circle, cross over to Elphinstone road station, Parel, Century Bazar, right on Prabhadevi New Rd on to the sea link, at Bandra - take SV road till Juhu and then continue to Versova, Andheri as mentioned before. Which is the least crowded road which I can take from Andheri to the NH3/EasternExpress Highway? Andheri-Ghatkopar should be fine. Correct? Once I hit NH3 I will go north-bound all the way till the NH222 into KYN/AMB. Can I do all this from 6 am to 6 pm? Thanks guys.

[hvkumar]

To get from Andheri to EEH, it is best to go on WEH till JOIgeswar, take the JVLR (Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road) which is now a nice 4-laner via Powai to Kanjur Marg, where you join EEH. Little jamming in Powai are but otherwise the drive to EEH should take you 15-30 minutes from EEH.

[kiren]

Thane - Kalyan - Ambernath will be a very long drive. Mhape - Shil phata - Ambernath should be better.

[Rock 'n' rollz]

Originally Posted by kiren

Thane - Kalyan - Ambernath will be a very long drive. Mhape - Shil phata - Ambernath should be better.

Distance wise both are equal... Thane - Kalyan - Ambernath road is really good. So I think time wise also Thane, Kalyan, Ambernath would be a better bet.

[tanwaramit]

As HVK Sir and Kiren has mentioned.

Go on the Western Express Highway till Jogeshwari flyover, go under it take a right to JVLR,go straight cross IIT, go over the Central railway line, and land on the eastern express highway.

Then take the airoli bridge, (only one toll you will get via this road), then Shil Phata, Katai Naka and MIDC pipeline road, direct to Ambarnath (East) (close to Lok Gram)

I used to stay in Andheri and every weekend this was my route to Ambarnath East. Shortest, less city traffic and relatively lighter on Sundays.

[jeevmenon]

@tanwaramit: Confused again. I got the good route to hit the EEH but I was planning to avoid Airoli bridge and go on the EEH till I hit the NH222 into Kalyan. That would be guaranteed traffic free. Is'nt Airoli bridge traffic a bit iffy?

[ghodlur]

Originally Posted by jeevmenon

@tanwaramit: Confused again. I got the good route to hit the EEH but I was planning to avoid Airoli bridge and go on the EEH till I hit the NH222 into Kalyan. That would be guaranteed traffic free. Is'nt Airoli bridge traffic a bit iffy?

You have to navigate through the Airoli bridge if you have to go to Shil Phata though Mhape. The other way round would be 1) Through thane city, Kalwa and touch the Thane belapur road, 2) Though Kalwa, Mumbra, Shil phata and onwards.

I still feel Airoli bridge is safest and fastest way to go to Shil phata. Traffic is not that much on Airoli Bridge besides the roads are good esp the Thane Belapur road.

[tanwaramit]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

You have to navigate through the Airoli bridge if you have to go to Shil Phata though Mhape. The other way round would be 1) Through thane city, Kalwa and touch the Thane belapur road, 2) Though Kalwa, Mumbra, Shil phata and onwards.

I still feel Airoli bridge is safest and fastest way to go to Shil phata. Traffic is not that much on Airoli Bridge besides the roads are good esp the Thane Belapur road.

There are truck traffic on this route especially after the airoli bridge, however with wide roads cars get good space to move on.

The roads are good, avoid taking any other route as the roads are narrower and you will get stuck in city traffic. The road from katai naka (I guess this is the name) to Ambarnath (the MIDC Pipeline road) is awesome, 4 lane road with divider, with very very few traffic and good construction road, I used to be on 100+ on this road.

Donot go via Kalyan, why do you want to goto Kalyan City ? there you will get stuck in lots of traffic, unless you are going at odd hours. This is the best bypass, I used to take this road during day/night every weekend (mind you it was every weekend for two years), after trying through all other routes found this one good for access to Ambarnath.

If you go via EEH, Mulund Toll will take a toll on you, after that there are some crossings which are very dangerous as the people cross like crazy (including three wheelers), then at Kalyan, again a toll and then I guess you can go via Overbridge to Ulhasnagar and then Ambarnath West, OR take the other bridge (cant remember name) then to again this MIDC Pipe road.

Route 2 via Airoli is the best bet.

[jeevmenon]

OK, tanwaramit. Rock'n'Rollz was suggesting NH3/NH222 but then the Kalyan-Ambernath which he is not aware could be the bottle neck I will face. Anyway, just the thought of modern NH made me feel that I should take that. I will probably take the Airoli bridge.

[tanwaramit]

Originally Posted by jeevmenon

OK, tanwaramit. Rock'n'Rollz was suggesting NH3/NH222 but then the Kalyan-Ambernath which he is not aware could be the bottle neck I will face. Anyway, just the thought of modern NH made me feel that I should take that. I will probably take the Airoli bridge.

Welcome, I am assuming you are going to Ambarnath East, as you will enter directly into Ambarnath East from here. Going from East to West will take its own time, but not as much as coming from Kalyan & Ulhasnagar.