[RGK]

Originally Posted by mah45

Thanks RGK

Is this the narrow road next to the Transformers on the left side on Trichy highway ? I used to take this road in the past

1. It is 4+ kms from the Ulundurpet toll
2. There will be a first Railway Overbridge and one need to pass this and at the second bridge take the service (narrow road) and there is a name board for "vriddachalam". Do stick to left lane after crossing the first ROB. Not able to recollect the transformers on the road.

[mah45]

Thanks RGK
While returning, I need to actually go to Auroville side of Pondicherry
So, if there's a way to avoid Cuddalore - Pondy route to head there, would be great, thanks again.

[mah45]

Originally Posted by RGK

1. It is 4+ kms from the Ulundurpet toll
2. There will be a first Railway Overbridge and one need to pass this and at the second bridge take the service (narrow road) and there is a name board for "vriddachalam". Do stick to left lane after crossing the first ROB. Not able to recollect the transformers on the road.

Just for further clarity, I have tried to mark the road to the left after Ulundurpet toll gate
It seems to go towards Senthanadu but there is a turn towards right that goes towards Vridhachalam.
(Have marked in Red)
Is this the suggested route ?

Thanks

[RGK]

Originally Posted by mah45

Just for further clarity, I have tried to mark the road to the left after Ulundurpet toll gate ?
Thanks

No. Just drive down after Ulundurpet toll for 4 kms on the highway and you will notice a ROB and take the service road there. Attaching the Google pic for ref

[Balaji13rk]

Hey all, I stay in Thuraipakkam OMR and I commute to Kumbakonam once in month for last 2 years. I feel the easiest way to Kumbakonam from OMR, ECR region is below.

Thuraipakkam - Sholinganallur - Navalur - Kelambakkam bypass - Thiruporur bypass - join ECR at poonjeri junction (this kinda saves me a toll at Uthandi, and roads are also neat) - Pondicherry - kanniyakoil - take right(land mark Indian oil petrol pump) to join Kadalur bypass - join Chidambaram bypass at Karaikadu - enjoy the newly laid NH32 - exit to kattumanargudi NH81 - drive till meensuruty - take left to join NH36 - Anaikarai bypass and reach Kumbakonam.

Been using this for last 2 months and on average I take 4.5hours for door to door from thuraipakkam to Kumbakonam, maintaining safe and steady 80kmph speed in good roads. Do enjoy fuel at discounted rate at Pondy petrol pumps. I usually fill tank and it saves 300-400 rupees at ease.

Return route is also same, one minor correction we can’t take Kelambakkam bypass.

Toll: 125 at Cuddalore bypass and 45 Kattumannarkoil bypass.

Driving in ECR from Poonjeri to Pondy is now becoming pain due to ongoing road works.
Once ECR 6 way is done, even sub 4 hour travel from Kumbakonam - Chennai seems possible.


Other routes I used earlier:
Route 1:
Thuraipakkam - Sholinganallur - Thiruporur - Chengalpattu - Villupuram - Ulundhurpet - virudhachalam - Jayankondam- Kumbakonam
Now avoiding this due to heavy traffic and heavy tolls.

Route 2:
Thuraipakkam - Sholinganallur - Thiruporur bypass - Pondy - Kadalur - Vadalur - Sethiyathope - Meensuruty - Anaikarai - Kumbakonam
Incomplete road works and Bridge works at Sethiyathope was a pain, haven’t taken this route for last 6-7 months at-least. This route has zero tolls

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Balaji13rk

Thuraipakkam - Sholinganallur - Navalur - Kelambakkam bypass - Thiruporur bypass - join ECR at poonjeri junction (this kinda saves me a toll at Uthandi, and roads are also neat) - Pondicherry - kanniyakoil - take right(land mark Indian oil petrol pump) to join Kadalur bypass - join Chidambaram bypass at Karaikadu - enjoy the newly laid NH32 - exit to kattumanargudi NH81 - drive till meensuruty - take left to join NH36 - Anaikarai bypass and reach Kumbakonam.

Very good suggestion. The only section is Mahabs to Pondicherry which we need to cover in one way for some distance. Also I hope they find some solution to Pondicherry North west bypass. I know we have sensitive biosphere in that region. If we can find a solution that would be great. N81 has been great development as well. Gives an alternative to Trichy too, especially a respite from GST.

[mah45]

Originally Posted by RGK

No. Just drive down after Ulundurpet toll for 4 kms on the highway and you will notice a ROB and take the service road there. Attaching the Google pic for ref

Thanks
GMaps routed correctly through this Mangalampettai bye-pass and it was a breeze
I took your advice to keep to the left while approaching this turn, and it certainly helped

Will write a detailed write-up in sometime, thanks

[Yieldway17]

Originally Posted by gops619

Also, didn't know that no work is in progress between Vikravandi and Sethiyathope, shocked. Hope NHAI sorts out new contract soon.

EKK Infrastructure Limited has been awarded tender for balance works for four laning of Vikravandi - Sethiyathope section from Km 0.000 to Km 65.960 of NH-45C in Tamilnadu under NHDP Phase-IV on EPC mode.

Expected timeline to complete is 24 months.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by Balaji13rk

Pondicherry - kanniyakoil - take right(land mark Indian oil petrol pump) to join Kadalur bypass - join Chidambaram bypass at Karaikadu.

Is this entire bypass completed? We encountered some sections last year, when they were still incomplete.

Been using this for last 2 months and on average I take 4.5hours for door to door from thuraipakkam to Kumbakonam, maintaining safe and steady 80kmph

Am curious how you are able to do 270 km in 4.5 hrs with present condition of ECR after Mahabs. ECR is not exactly traffic free vis-a-vis GST. We are also quite sometime away from a 4 or 6-laned ECR.

[Balaji13rk]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Is this entire bypass completed? We encountered some sections last year, when they were still incomplete.



Am curious how you are able to do 270 km in 4.5 hrs with present condition of ECR after Mahabs. ECR is not exactly traffic free vis-a-vis GST. We are also quite sometime away from a 4 or 6-laned ECR.

No secret!! I start in traffic free hours.
4am in morning.
Ignore that 158kmph max speed, it is just 5 mins of enthusiastic drive at newly laid Chidambaram bypass. It was tempting to see what my kushaq can do at open roads.
Otherwise i maintain 80-90kmph throughout the journey.

[RGK]

Originally Posted by Balaji13rk

Thuraipakkam - Sholinganallur - Navalur - Kelambakkam bypass - Thiruporur bypass - join ECR at poonjeri junction (this kinda saves me a toll at Uthandi, and roads are also neat) - Pondicherry - kanniyakoil - take right(land mark Indian oil petrol pump) to join Kadalur bypass - join Chidambaram bypass at Karaikadu - enjoy the newly laid NH32 - exit to kattumanargudi NH81 - drive till meensuruty - take left to join NH36 - Anaikarai bypass and reach Kumbakonam.

Balaji saab, your ~70 km per hour avg speed on this route is remarkable. It is not a straight and typical length where one can sustain a consistent speed.

Is it possible for you to tell me how many kilometers you covered around 7 a.m. (started at 3.57 am).

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by Balaji13rk

No secret!! I start in traffic free hours.

You can get the same or better throughput from GST too for the start timings. This of course depends on the day and season. Usually ECR and GST aren't so different in terms of traffic.

I once started at 420 am from Chromepet and was at Swamimalai at 840 am via Perambalur-Ariyalur-Thiruvaiyaru which should be about 320 km ballpark. At that time, traffic eases after Chengalpattu bypass. This was a 90-110 drive.

And I believe you'd have been on the 90 and above ballpark unknowingly to average out 70, or you have been very lucky on the traffic front. Otherwise averaging 70 or above is a big deal even on 4 or 6-lane roads even on higher speeds like 100-110. Let alone mix of conditions you've gone through.

[Balaji13rk]

Originally Posted by RGK

Balaji saab, your ~70 km per hour avg speed on this route is remarkable. It is not a straight and typical length where one can sustain a consistent speed.

Is it possible for you to tell me how many kilometers you covered around 7 a.m. (started at 3.57 am).

Thanks mate. Roughly I would have crossed Pondy and entered Cuddalore bypass by 7am.
I see in my toll deduction I crossed Chidambaram highway NH32 toll at 7:18am, and Meensuruty highway NH81 toll at 7:58am.

[Balaji13rk]

Originally Posted by narayans80

You can get the same or better throughput from GST too for the start timings.
=====
Let alone mix of conditions you've gone through.

Agreed! May be am lucky with free roads.
Main reason I took ECR is to skip the tolls on the GST🤪

[csateesh]

Originally Posted by Balaji13rk

No secret!! I start in traffic free hours.
4am in morning.
Otherwise i maintain 80-90kmph throughout the journey.

What is the App that gives you this wonderful summary ?

Agree that starting before the world wakes up is a proven technique to beat traffic for outstation travel or to work