[Altrozed]

Hello All,
Did a quick drive from Vizag to Hyderabad after taking delivery of Altroz DCA Dark.
Road is very good with no surprises.
Kovvur -Eluru is fabulous.
Diwancheruvu (suburbs of Rajahmundry ) to 4th bridge of Godavari, the road is being freshly laid and might be completed in another few days.
The road on 4th bridge is also being topped up and once you clear the toll, the drive is breeze till Pedda Avutapalle- Gannavaram.
Vijayawada Inner Ring road towards Ibrahimpatnam is must considered if you want to drive toward hyderabad.
Till last toll on GMR express way, the road is excellent. Once the toll is crossed and till Pedda Amberpet touch point of ORR is nightmare.

[rahul4640]

Originally Posted by ashis89

Passing through the city, you get good roads but lot of traffic and signals. A stretch of ~50 kms can take anywhere between 1.5 to 2.5 hrs.

If you take the bypass, it takes 1.5-2 hrs for 55 kms. Out of this, 12 kms is bad road (sedans can do it with some careful driving) and rest is very good roads.

Thanks. While going towards Vijaywada from Calcutta I stayed overnight at Vizag, hence had to take the main road through the city. Fortunately the traffic was not very dense at around half past eight in the morning. While returning on 02nd February I did not have any reason to stop at Vizag, hence took the bypass route. The road was much broken in places, surely will be difficult to negotiate at night, with large trucks with their powerful blinding headlights. From my fastag records I could see that I passed Vempadu toll at 11-46 Hrs (Toll paid Rs 130/-), Marripalem toll plaza at 12-52 Hrs (paid Rs 20) and reached a place called Dukkavanipalem at 13-44 Hrs (charged Rs 25/-).

[JC_Redstreak]

Originally Posted by JC_Redstreak

Dear BHPians

I was planning for a road trip from Bangalore to Bhubaneswar by the end of Jan'23 with stops at Vijaywada and Vishakapatnam.

Dear BHPian's
I was able to tick this trip of my bucket-list. Trip from Bangalore to Bhubaneswar panned out as below:
Step 1 . 26th January - Bangalore to Vijaywada - Start time 4.15 AM, Reached by 3 PM. Good to very good roads for most part, few bad patches from after Tirupati till Naidupet but nothing that will make you skip a heartbeat. Encountered dense fog from 5.45 AM till 6.45 AM, wasn't confident to drive followed a slow moving Volvo. Had to watch out for vehicles behind, not something I enjoyed and probably would avoid the next time.
Driving on NH16 is a breeze, can easily maintain 3 digit speeds. Word of caution is to to watch out for 2W's, 3W's, tempos and tractors coming on the opposite side and with a lot of audacity.
Step 2. 27th January - Vijaywada to Vishakapatnam - This leg was a leisure drive, done because I wanted to reach Jeypore the next day. Beautiful and arrow straight roads, few diversions were there but nothing to worry. Started - 9 AM, reached - Gateway Hotel at RK neach by 2.30 PM. Didn't strain the car much. Close shave from a "dancing goat". Mostly uneventful drive.
Step 3. 28th January, Vizag to Jeypore. Start time - 12.30 PM, reached by 6 PM, with multiple breaks. Drive time could be 4.5 hrs. Route taken was Vizag - Vizianagaram by pass- Salur- Sunkhi-Sunabeda-Koraput-Jeypore. Took this road after almost 2 decades, roads have improved by leaps and bounds but the greenery cover is lost, IMHO heavy price to pay for the progress made.
Step 4- 1st February, Jeypore to Bhubaneswar Start time - 9 am, reached by 7 pm, mulltiple breaks of about 1.5 to 2 hrs. Route taken: Jeypore- Koraput-Sunabeda-Salur-Rajam-Srikakulam (NH16)-Berhampur-Bhubaneswar. Roads from Jeypore to Sunkhi were great, 2 Lane but smooth and less traffic. Encountered worn out tarmac in AP for few KMs. NH16 is very good, slowed down due to speed monitoring in Odisha.

Apart from this, went to Chitrakoot from Jeypore about 250KM round-trip. Great roads, scant traffic, need to watch out for cattles and the occasional folks in high spirit..
Overall drive was 2K KMs, have to say that in India we have achieved great road infrastructure. Will update on the return leg, once it is completed.

[JC_Redstreak]

As luck would have it, there are no posts on this thread after my post on the 9th February. I take this opportunity to update on the return leg.
After the confidence gained from the onwards journey, I decided to complete the Bhubaneswar-Bangalore run with a single break at Vijaywada.

Day 1 (17th February) Bhubaneswar to Vijaywada - 780 Kms - Start time : 6.15 AM, Reached by 5.45 PM. This could have been faster, but for the diversion through Annakapalle, roads are in pathetic conditions. Trucks drive like they own the roads, theres not much of it anyway on this part. Remaining part was very uneventful, could easily maintain triple digit speeds on most parts.

Day 2 (18th February) Vijaywada to Bangalore -653 Kms - Start time 10.30 AM reached by 9 PM. Drove carefully on the Naidupet-Tirupati stretch, roads otherwise are alright.

Overall a great drive. Great way to see the country, my wife and 7 year old enjoyed the experience. Cheers, Drive Safe.

[4WheelPilot]

Originally Posted by JC_Redstreak

Day 1 (17th February) Bhubaneswar to Vijaywada - 780 Kms - Start time : 6.15 AM, Reached by 5.45 PM.

11 hrs - Bhubaneswar to Vijayawada that's fast. Did you not face bad roads and traffic jams just outside Vizag? Last time I had done this stretch, it took me 14 hrs!!

[Altrozed]

Vizag bypass, now new NH16 is almost completed and relatively hassle free.
Parts at Sabbavaram Jn and Anakapalli diversion are little bad.
Rest all, including RJY Godavari 4th bridge is freshly laid

[JC_Redstreak]

Originally Posted by 4WheelPilot

11 hrs - Bhubaneswar to Vijayawada that's fast. Did you not face bad roads and traffic jams just outside Vizag? Last time I had done this stretch, it took me 14 hrs!!

Well Google recommended timing was 14 hrs+, but honestly I don't think one needs that long driving time unless of course driving very conservatively or multiple breaks included. I could manage these timings with very sane speeds.

As said, the only grouse in the otherwise wonderful NH16 was driving from Vizag exit to Anakapalle. About 20-25 kms is pretty undrivable, add truck traffic to it - not a pretty picture. I imagine, if this issue is sorted out it can easily save 1 hour in the drive time

[maximus_fiat]

Hello BHPians,

I am planning a road trip next month from Hyderabad to Bhubaneshwar. Wanted to know the condition of Vizag bypass.

Last time I travelled on this route was in Nov, 2022. Bypass was in a terrible condition.

[chembilath]

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route...ml#post5545345 (Bangalore - Kolkata : Route Queries)

As per the above post in a similar route thread, it seems to be open and good

[SKC-auto]

Originally Posted by maximus_fiat

Hello BHPians,

I am planning a road trip next month from Hyderabad to Bhubaneshwar. Wanted to know the condition of Vizag bypass.

Last time I travelled on this route was in Nov, 2022. Bypass was in a terrible condition.

This road is 99% completed, one bridge is yet to be completed where you need to use opposite road. For people of Vizag, there is no way you can get down this highway in between, once you enter at Anakapalle, the next exit is only at Anandapuram.

[Altrozed]

Originally Posted by SKC-auto

This road is 99% completed, one bridge is yet to be completed where you need to use opposite road. For people of Vizag, there is no way you can get down this highway in between, once you enter at Anakapalle, the next exit is only at Anandapuram.

No sir, there is exit at Pingadi where you get off the road and cross it under a bridge to drive towards Vepagunta.

Next is after crossing the VSKP Araku highway, we will be driving on one side, there is an exit there to get off and can reach Pendurti.

[maximus_fiat]

Recently took the Vizag bypass and must say it is awesome. Was able to complete the stretch in around 40 mins. As mentioned earlier, only 1 bridge is left to be completed. Hopefully, it should be complete in a few months time.

[justwheels]

Hi All,

I am planning a Bangalore Kolkata road drive next week. Earlier plan was to do a 1 stop at Visakhapatnam only but since I have some senior citizens with me, planning to start 1 night earlier and stay at Tirupati to cut a few hours from the non stop drive to Visakhapatnam from BLR.

Question 1: Is it ok to start at 8PM from Bangalore and reach Tirupati at 12 midnight. (have never driven Tirupati route hence the question)

Question 2: Any good breakfast point between Tirupati and Nellore ?

Any other points to consider?

Thanks,
Deb

[Altrozed]

Originally Posted by justwheels

Hi All,

.

Question 1: Is it ok to start at 8PM from Bangalore and reach Tirupati at 12 midnight. (have never driven Tirupati route hence the question)

Question 2: Any good breakfast point between Tirupati and Nellore ?

Any other points to consider?

Thanks,
Deb

4 hrs from KR Puram/Whitefield to Tirupati is doable based traffic and driving style.

Nellore Grand is a good food option when driving on NH16.
If time permits, just enter the nellore city by 1km you can find several good breakfast points.

You need a good 12 hr drive to Vizag if you are starting from Tirupati by 6am.

A halt at Vizag means, you are entering Vizag city which adds another 1 hr to enter and exit next day.

[iBokehlicious]

Hi all,

I'm planning a Solo trip on my Honda city from Bhubaneswar to Bangalore starting 16th of July. Is anyone travelling the same route during this time ?