Team-BHP - Delhi-Kolkata by Road | NH2 (now called NH19) in full detail

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If I plan to reach Calcutta around 6 pm- what will be the best time to start from Benaras?

My office guys did this stretch recently, they started from Chandigarh at 12 noon and reached Varanasi at 1 in the night, Next day they started from Varanasi at around 6 Am and reached Kolkatta at 7 in evening.

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Originally Posted by Turbanator (Post 4068825)

My office guys... started from Varanasi at around 6 Am and reached Kolkatta at 7 in evening.

13 hours to cover ~700 km, can only happen when driving a car capable of 200+ kmph but with only 135 mm ground clearance, in India! :D

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Originally Posted by SS-Traveller (Post 4062003)

On my wishlist for this road:
- completion of the roadworks in the section through JH and WB;
- widening & flyovers / bypasses between Agra and Etawah, and between Allahabad & Varanasi;
- better surfacing all through, especially in the section between Allahabad and the UP-BR border.

I shall be more specific - a flyover or bypass for Fatehabad. And some decent eateries on the entire route. Is big Mac listening? :)

Hi Seniors,

I am all set for a Kolkata -Varanasi trip starting next Monday (Nabami). Plan to start by 5 am (I stay near the Airport) with my wife, 4 year old kid and parents. A bit tensed as I am not only the sole driver for this trip but also the only one who can differentiate between a brake and accelerator 🙄.

Can somebody help me with the good food breaks that I can take considering the team that I am driving with. My current plans are breakfast at Shaktigarh and lunch at Dhanbad (and a short break at the place where those spears and swords are sold). Any other suggestions?

Would also be happy to hear in case any body has any recent updates/ tips regarding the road condition, etc.

P. S. - my longest long drive (distance) till date has been Kolkata-Mukutmonipur (296 km) which took 5 hours ( including an unscheduled stop of 30 minutes due to road being blocked by locals to protest an accident). Timewise, the longest I have driven is for 7 hours while returning from Mukutmonipur via Bishnupur and Arambagh (pathetic road condition).

SDR

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Originally Posted by subhrajitdr (Post 4069523)

Being frequent on the NH2, I suggest that you plan your food breaks in WB only. I believe there are a few better food joints near Panagarh/ Darjeeling more. Once you enter JH or even Bihar, the road conditions will be much better (not that WB section is bad) but there is a surprising dearth of good eateries on this highway.

Some distances for you planning:

Kolkata to Barhi (Jh) ~425 kms

Barhi to sasaram(BR)~180 kms

Sasaram to Varanasi (UP) ~ 120 kms.

Regards.

Don't know if this has been posted before - but the right 3 lanes of the 6 lane Panagarh bypass are operational. You take the usual signboard marked "Kolkata " from Darjeeling more and this takes you onto the bypass. The endpoints of the bypass are closed as shown in gmaps.

Video of the bypass drive taken today morning. I was coming from the Durgapur side.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7VNxfHiXsM

Completed Delhi Kolkata section
Have to return back though :D
Started from CR Park at 6am, 5th October. Greater Noida Expressway at 7 am, had to complete some work in the city.
Reached Benaras at 9pm. Breaks 1hr.
Overnight stay in Benaras close to BHU trauma center
Started at 10am on 6th from Benaras. Reached Barrackpore at 1am. Breaks 1 hr.
Entire stretch from Dhanbad to Panagarh is filled with diversions. Slows one down considerably.
First time highway driving so late at night - advantage being near absent traffic from Panagarh till Dankuni.
All trucks were stopped at different points in the route because of no entry rule for Durga Puja. So, may not be that smooth at other times of the year. Some diversions on the Benaras Karamanasia section as well.
Some small time dhabas in the forest area between dhobi and Cobra Hill. Stopped at one for lunch. Don't know how safe it is but well we're still alive and well.
Between Chauparan and Dhanbad - truck tracks cause a bumpy ride. Starting return journey on 11th hopefully.

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Originally Posted by sdp1975 (Post 4070713)

Is the approach road to Panagarh bypass well marked when approaching from Calcutta side? I think one has to cross the road to reach the bypass or is there any underpass?

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Originally Posted by dr_rdey (Post 4072111)

Is the approach road to Panagarh bypass well marked when approaching from Calcutta side? I think one has to cross the road to reach the bypass or is there any underpass?

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Originally Posted by subhrajitdr (Post 4072118)

Is the panagarh bypass operational on the way from kolkata to durgapur too?

It's well marked . After crossing the railway overbridge from Kolkata side, you'll find signboards marked "Delhi for cars/LMVs".

There's no underpass - just turn right at the signboard and you will find a 2 lane road that meets the bypass.

We completed Delhi-Kolkata leg of the journey. Below are the observations:

1. Road is pretty much smooth till Jharkhand border. Some of the small toll plazas have been made bigger in size with huge concretes and multiple lanes. Few are under renovation/up-gradation to the bigger one.

2. Roads from Jharkhand to till Burdwan is ok type with pot-holes here are there. There are few bad patches near West Bengal borders. However, the roads inside WB border is improved much compared to last year. There was no traffic jam in the late night. Hope to see this section completed by next 6 months. There are still lots of diversions after Dhanbad till Burdwan.

We took 4 hours' sleep/lunch break in Hotel Kaushik in Varanashi. We are accompanied by our dog. The return journey to Delhi will commence soon.