Team-BHP - Bangalore - Pune - Mumbai : Route updates & Eateries

Further to my earlier posts, have got some more information on the PIL pending before the Supreme Court of India.

The NGO is seeking direction to restrain the Government / NHAI from "arbitrary collection" of toll tax.

The petition has challenged the open tolling system, whereby motorists are charged for use of national highways at flat rates which is not on the basis to actual distance travelled and this has been challenged. The petition states that the motorists are suffering financial losses due to the unfair policy of the government. Users are not being charged fee for the actual length travelled. In other countries, the tolled roads are normally accessed controlled. Therefore, toll is charged on the basis of distance travelled by adopting the closed system with toll plaza at every entry and exit of the tolled road.

Another issue for the consideration of the Court is that day by day more toll collection centres are being set up at a short distance, whereas the NHAI Act provides that the distance between the one toll centre and the other toll centre should be 60 km, which is in consonance with the rules framed under the National Highways fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules 2008.

Further highlighting violations of the NHAI Act toll plazas established within the local limits of the Municipal area of a town, is strictly prohibited by the NHAI aAct and the rules framed under it. The growing numbers of toll tax barriers are now becoming an irritant with the commuters, who are already paying the VAT on vehicle, besides road tax and cess on fuel.

The Supreme Court on 10th May 2012 (Wednesday took exception to government allowing contractors to charge high toll tax every 10-15km even on under-construction national highways (NHs).The bench appears to be livid by the harrowing experience of a motorist who was charged toll tax by contractors minutes after he had negotiated a diversion on a highway. “At every under-construction over-bridge there is a diversion, but there is a toll booth every 15km. If one travels from Delhi to Amritsar by road, the person would be lighter in pocket by a few hundred rupees,” the bench said.

The bench said, "We are not on shortcoming. We are on policy. We are not against BOT (build, operate, transfer), but pointing out the condition. It should not be just a money making machine. You don't provide smooth roads, and you are charging toll tax. Where is the justification in that?”

The court noted that “in many areas, it’s a common habit of motorists to turn back and drive on the wrong carriageway after coming across a toll booth posing grave danger to others”

“We are not on one expressway toll plaza but on a larger question whether collection of toll on unfinished highways had the sanction of a policy decision. A common man need not always resort to applications under the Right to Information Act. They must know what the policy decision is?”

PARLIAMENT COMMITTEE ON ESTIMATES

It is also reported by the media that Parliament’s committee on estimates in its report to the Government had expressed displeasure upon the toll collection on under-construction highways and negotiating that requires motorists to take time consuming and painful diversions.

It has pointed to “disturbing instances”, where toll was being collected on shoddy roads. It had suggested to the government to review and revisit rules on collection of toll so that it did not become an “instrument of malpractice and unjust profiteering by unscrupulous elements to harass general public”.

The panel in its report has stated that it would be unfair to charge toll on highways that were not fully commissioned.

This report is also being sought to be produced before the Supreme Court in this PIL.

Quote:

Originally Posted by suniladhiya (Post 2775241)

The NHAI website shows the following stretches in progress which would be of particular interest to Bangalore-Pune-Mumbai travellers:

(a) Chitradurg-Tumkur Bypass (Approved Length 145 kms) ongoing length 114 kms - work commenced in March 2011 and expected completion December 2013 - contractor IRB

(b) Belgaum-Dharwad (Approved Length 111 kms) ongoing length 80 kms - Work commenced in December 2010 and expected completion December 2013 - contractor Ashoka Buildcon

Does anybody know whether these are completely new alignments or extension of existing 4-lane sections to 6-lane? In either case it should substantially reduce travel times when completed.

Both are extension of existing 4-lane sections to six lane.

For the Chitradurga Tumkur Bypass project, consortium banks are IDFC,(lead bank) BOB, HDFC Bank and IDBI Bank who have financed the project.

For the Belgaum Dharwad project is executed on design-build-finance-operate-and-transfer (DBFOT) basis. This project was earlier scheduled for completion in September 2013 by Ashoka Belgaum Dharwad Tollway Private Ltd. CRISIL has rated this project.

@Innowagon: I really appreciate your deep knowledge about these developments. So when the NHAI website says "Chitradurg Tumkur bypass" I guess what they mean is "From Chitradurg to Tumkur Bypass" is that correct ?

Also, on my recent trip to Bangalore, I noticed that the Dharwad-Hubli bypass is being four laned. Any idea when this is scheduled for completion. Incidentally, it is really shameful the way in which the road at the Dharwad Toll booth while coming from Belgaum side suddenly changes from 4 lane to 2 lane without so much as a warning signage. For one not accustomed to the change, you suddenly see vehicles coming from the opposite side in your lane and curse them till you realise that its now two lane right upto the Hubli exit - or is there a signage somewhere which I missed ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by suniladhiya (Post 2775980)

I have copy pasted the bold letters in nos 1 and 2 from NHAI website as below:

1. SIX LANING OF TUMKUR- CHITRADURGA (EXCLUDING TUMKUR & CHITRADURGA BYPASSES) SECTION FROM KM 75.00 TO KM 189.00 OF NH 4 (APPROX. 114.00 KM ) IN THE STATE OF KARNATAKA TO BE EXECUTED AS BOT (TOLL) PROJECT ON DBFOT PATTERN UNDER NHDP PHASE V. --- This means that 114 km will be six laned except the bypass road for Tumkur town and Chitradurga towns which will continue to remain four laned as of now (Four lane in the bypass roads against the two towns only). As I understand there are some legal hurdles in acquiring the land for sixlaning of the byepass section outside these towns.

2. SIX LANING OF BELGAUM - DHARWAD SECTION OF NH 4 FROM KM 433.00 TO KM 515.00 (LENGTH - 79.36 KM ) IN THE STATE OF KARNATAKA TO BE EXECUTED AS BOT (TOLL) ON DBFO PATTERN UNDER NHDP PHASE - V ---- From Dharwad Jubliee Circle, four laning is expected.

3. The Dharwad Hubli four lane road project ( 19.5 km) is scheduled for completion in May 2013. It had commenced work in March 2011 as a two year project. The four lane project starts from Hosur Circle Hubli upto Jubliee Circle Dharwad. From Naveen Hotel in Hubli (Unakal Cross) till Vidyagiri in Dharwad, the 13.75km distance is to be concretised and the rest asphalted. Underpasses at Unkal, Navanagar, Bhairidevarakoppa and a road over-bridge at Navalur are also proposed. NHAI has allocated 100 crore for this project with Karnataka State government contributing Rs. 77.73 crore towards it. Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board has been paid Rs. 2.84 crore for shifting the existing water supply lines along this route.

Quote:

Originally Posted by acroback (Post 2779671)

People, any good hotels to stay overnight with family and kids enroute Blr-Mumbai?
I am planning to do the trip on 4'ish from Bangalore, halt at 8:00PM inbetween and continue till Mumbai next day early morning.

Do shed out your experiences/feedback/recommendations on hotels where you can stay with kids and family.

You can refer this route plan prepared by me which has all the details of hotels en route:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BzW...kpaRF9qYnB4b2c

Ideally, you can halt at Hubli - Hotels Ayodhya, Ananth Residency or Hans, depending on your budget - or in Belgaum - Hotel Sankam Residency on the bypass itself.

All hotels listed are good, we have favourable user experiences and are safe for families.

@Acroback: In addition to what Dr.HVK and Innwagon have mentioned - my two cents: During my last drive from Pune to Bangalore we halted at Hotel Clarks' Inn at Hubli - wonderful hotel and they gave a 30% discount on the rack rate on the telephone at the time of booking itself. The discounted rate came to Rs.3150/- for a double a/c room including a sumptuous buffet breakfast. This is place is located on the Airport Road (also known as Gokul Road) and is to the left of the Dharwad-Hubli bypass in the Pune-Blr Direction, about 10 kms from the highway.

Sankam Residency recommended by Dr.Kumar is also an excellent option for an overnight stay at Belgaum. You can actually see the neon sign from the Belgaum bypass and so do not need to go into the town at all.

Also, you could try Hotel Pearl at Kolhapur which has been our favourite stay option in the past, its just next to Raysons Residency mentioned by Innowagon.

Have a safe trip.

Travelled from Bangy to mumbai and this is an update:-

Tumkur Chitradurga:- 4 -5 diversions of about half to one km each, some with speed breakers some without. 6 laning work also going on truck traffic remains high.

C'durga hubli:- Continues to be fantastic, no work going on.

Hubli Darwad bypass status quo here, no work whatsoever. A few posts back someone mentioned that this was to be 4 laned.

Dharwad Belgaum:- Two diversions, and a LOT of work going on 6 laning in full swing. almost 70% complete. Road surface very good. (when I traveled on this stretch 2 months ago hardly any work at all), this is especially galling as there is a 6 lane road to the north and a 4 lane road to the south with this 2 lane road connecting them.:deadhorse

Belgaum Kholapur:- Status quo great road + less traffic = good average speeds possible. :D

Kholapur Satara Pune :- 6 laning work going on all along including provision of service roads at places. Widening of culverts and bridges to take the additional width also going on. High traffic and road surface poor esp the left lane where the road has rippled due to heat and heavy truck loads.

Pune bypass to Mumbai:- no change

Quote:

Originally Posted by nileshch (Post 2790980)

The additional two lanes are being constructed fresh at a little distance from the current two lanes. You should see them on your left when you return to Bangalore.

With all the road widening work going on, how much time did it take to reach Mumbai?

This is good to hear but I did not see any work going on, maybe I didn't look at the right place.:)

My timings Bangalore Belgaum and Belgaum Mumbai have been surprisingly constant at 7 1/2 hours both before the work started and after. I did take advantage of the 3 lanes by overtaking on the left most lane. so I suppose that helped. BUT the left most lane stops abruptly where culvert work is going on and thus overtaking is to be done cautiously.

Drove on 5th May ( My GQ drive) and later again to Mumbai only on June 12th.
Since there was no significant development during my former drive , I refrained from posting it here but when I drove second time on 12th, I was surprised to find all those deadly speedbreakers between Chitradurga and Davanagere 'flat'clap:.

The same holds true on the opposite corridor as well (Davanagere-Chitradurga).

So, the only important ones are just 2 now.

1. On Tumkur bypass (both sides) exactly at the intersection where you have the famous Idly shop.

Tumkur, Karnataka, India - Google Maps

2. Just after Harihar Bypass while heading north (and before bypass starts while heading south)

Harihar, Karnataka, India - Google Maps

I also encountered barricades in place of these speedbreakers and wondered about the dangers they pose during night though traveled both ways under sunlight.

Note: I am not explicitly mentioning the existence of speedbreakers wherever diversions exits (Tumkur-Chitradurga. Dharwad-Belgaum) as they are well marked and can be negotiated without much attention.