[ampere]

@Jeev, I have not done this personally. But I heard this from a friend of mine, who does CBE routinely. If one has to drive without breaks and he/she stays in North CBE, this route might be a good option.

[ajmat]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

this last bit between Avanashi and Coimbatore was really a come-down on an otherwise enjoyable drive. glad they have taken it up - hope they complete it soon.

This current section is the most dangerous stresful part of the journey. The smaller the car, the more suicidal they are in trying to overtake.

I find that this 1/3rd of the journey takes 2/3rd of the journey time and my fuel consumption goess up by 20% due to non constant speeds

[shankar.balan]

correct.
lots of loonies hurtling towards one at high speeds in various sized hunks of metal which are in varying degrees of repair/disrepair!
It certainly feels a bit video game-ish, driving on that stretch!

Originally Posted by ajmat

This current section is the most dangerous stresful part of the journey. The smaller the car, the more suicidal they are in trying to overtake.

I find that this 1/3rd of the journey takes 2/3rd of the journey time and my fuel consumption goess up by 20% due to non constant speeds

[sbkumar]

Originally Posted by jeevmenon

Thanks luvurride. Perundurai-Kangeyam-Palladam-Sulur is in excellent condition. 91km. Beautiful black tar - not a single pothole. Took me one and a half hours. 25km extra. Speeds of 80-100km can be done. No issues. Not crowded. Very much advisable especially for people going to Kerala, it connects into the NH47 very nicely. At Chennimalai there is a temple and all folks on the road, so a small slow down for 100-200m or so. Nothing major. And this route is very scenic. Sulur is also a little crowded but not bad at all. Go for it.

Jeev, what time did you do this stretch - perundurai-kangeyam-palladam?. I did this route a month back while coming back from Cbe and it was equally frustrating as the heavily congested Cbe to Avinashi stretch. It did this on a sunday evening and it was full with slow moving traffic of all kinds. Could never really go beyond 60-70 in most places.

[jeevmenon]

sbkumar: 10:05 am to 11:40 am on Thursday - on 4th November - from Perundurai to Sulur to NH47 junction signal. Maybe I was lucky. Did anyone try the Avinashi stretch during the last weekend? Whats the progress?

[pramodpk]

I did the Avinashi stretch yesterday around 1:15 PM. Eventhough there were lot of diversions, it was Ok. I don't think it make sense to take alternate longer routes to avoid this stretch.

[Sujai]

Originally Posted by pramodpk

I did the Avinashi stretch yesterday around 1:15 PM. Eventhough there were lot of diversions, it was Ok. I don't think it make sense to take alternate longer routes to avoid this stretch.

Yeah even I did this yesterday and it doesn't make much sense to take alternate routes

[luvurride]

Originally Posted by jeevmenon

Thanks Ampere. Ampere: Did you do the route you mentioned? I am very interested to know the time difference between NH and alternative route. You are off the NH right at Thoppur (long way to CBE) ? Time-of-day/date/weather? Were both the journeys around the same time? We should have 2 drivers split at Thoppur and meet at CBE, both having similar driving skills/speed.

I am just trying to avoid Avinashi [bad stretch of Chengapalli to Neelampur (40 km) ] - nothing more. I trust the GQ/NH4(6/7) anyday over any other road for speed. I lost on the Perundurai-Chengapalli NH usage during my onward journey and Chengapalli-Chittode of the NH on my return. Henceforth, I want to hit the NH asap. I was sort of frustrated when we checked the old logs while traveling. Once we had started at around 9:45 am at CBE and at 11:30 we had covered 180 km on the NH - just beyond Salem. Wow! (And that day the driving time was 6:56 hrs) And yesterday, heck! Just before 12 we were only at Bhavani!

No matter what people say distance wise, scenery, all that... need to stick to GQ/NH4(6/7) as far as possible. Take the smallest detour from it and get back to it as quickly as possible. Another thing, the Sathy route was too curvy and so over-taking could not been done at times waiting for the road to straighten.

I read the kerala road conditions thread and a last saturday travel mentioned Avinashi not to be too bad. It has diversions marked well and traffic does not slow down is what was said. I wanted to find Sathy route and having found it out, I will never go that way.

Next trip in December will be once via Kangayam and the return will be via Avinashi.

@jeevmenon

Sathy Road in Coimbatore has always remained a problem with too narrow sections leading out of the city. So unless your source/destination is North CBE, it is a big pain. The rest of the stretch should have been ok.

But as I have observed with my combined driving of 4laned NHs and 2laned SHs after the inclusion of GQs into our lives, without any doubt take the NHs. However I really hate driving through these NHs when they are being laid as you frequently do stop-starts at every diversion and road level differences. Atleast the SHs would let you maintain some decent 2 digit speeds.

But the Kangeyam-Palladam-Sulur road is neither a narrow SH nor a 4laned NH. It being a wide road with even extensions for 2 wheelers, is definitely better for maintaining good speeds with easy overtakings.

[luvurride]

Originally Posted by sbkumar

Jeev, what time did you do this stretch - perundurai-kangeyam-palladam?. I did this route a month back while coming back from Cbe and it was equally frustrating as the heavily congested Cbe to Avinashi stretch. It did this on a sunday evening and it was full with slow moving traffic of all kinds. Could never really go beyond 60-70 in most places.

Guys, I did a trip last weekend through the Kangeyam-Palladam-Sulur stretch.

Onward was on the day of Diwali and hence there were hardly any souls on the highway. But still did it only in 1.45hrs from Erode(110km) with lots of slowing downs to watch some spectacular aerial fire crackers enroute.
Time of travel: 5.35pm-7.20pm
Maintained a steady 80-100 for most part.

Return was on the eve of Monday after watching Obama's speech. It was a huge lineup until Palladam. but still managed to reach back at Erode in 1.50hrs, courtesy some speedy driving=translate reckless(at some places).
Time of travel: 6.20pm-8.10pm
I did 3 digit speeds for most part after Palladam. But until Palladam there was heavy traffic.

[luvurride]

Originally Posted by pramodpk

I did the Avinashi stretch yesterday around 1:15 PM. Eventhough there were lot of diversions, it was Ok. I don't think it make sense to take alternate longer routes to avoid this stretch.

Probably because this a lean period for that route. I did it in the evening and there were piles of vehicles stuck at every diversion. Add to this the stupid moves of some "smart" guys who think that they are too smart to pass through the pile and squeeze in.

[jeevmenon]

How much has the North East Monsoon / Depression rains affected the

NH4 (Chennai-Walajapet)
NH46 from (Walajapet-Krishnagiri)
NH7 (Krishnagiri-Salem) and
NH47 (Salem-Coimbatore)?

Btw, does it at all affect the NH? Is the road quality there and the ones inside cities different? Or is it that they are the same but city roads are pounded constantly and hence it gets bad? Or is it a combination of both? Or is the engineering different and superior for the NH?

Also has anyone in the past week done the Avinashi stretch? Progress? I am going this weekend and so would like to know if I could take the Kangeyam route or stick to Avinashi.

[ampere]

I have never seen any completed GQ part being affected by rain.

[sriviswa]

Originally Posted by jeevmenon

How much has the North East Monsoon / Depression rains affected the

NH4 (Chennai-Walajapet)
NH46 from (Walajapet-Krishnagiri)
NH7 (Krishnagiri-Salem) and
NH47 (Salem-Coimbatore)?

Btw, does it at all affect the NH? Is the road quality there and the ones inside cities different? Or is it that they are the same but city roads are pounded constantly and hence it gets bad? Or is it a combination of both? Or is the engineering different and superior for the NH?

Also has anyone in the past week done the Avinashi stretch? Progress? I am going this weekend and so would like to know if I could take the Kangeyam route or stick to Avinashi.

Hi Jeev,

My second post on BHP (my first was just an hour ago :-). I have to go to CBE this saturday (from Urapakkam near Vandalur) and need best route suggestions (including driving directions if possible.....as I will be travelling with a patient). And the trip will be in a 1 month old NANO I hope I am not biting off more than it can chew . Thanks in advance.

[DWind]

I had done Chennai Bangalore last week and since Rains have worsened expect the roads to be in not-so-great shape. The top layer of roads have eroded in few places and some unexpected potholes have come up. Expect bumpy ride although Nano should be able to take it up comfortably.

[jeevmenon]

Potholes in GQ - wow! Can you please let me know the approximate location of these? I am scared. Going at 100-110 cant stop for a pothole. Can you?

sriviswa: I can see a SH110 via Manimangalam to Sriperumputhur - 35 km from Urapakkam. I dont know the condition of that road.

But for a smooth ride all through take the Chennai-bypass, come to Tambaram and instead of going right and down to Tambaram railway station, keep going straight all the way till Maduravoyal grade separator and then take left to Poonamallee and join the NH4.
This is 60 km and so a 25km setback, but does not matter when you are on your way to a 520 km ride.