Driving from Mumbai to Belgaum: Observations on route & road conditions

I encountered long diversions with rough surfaces and potholes. And to make matters worse, there are unmarked speedbreakers.

BHPian vivek95 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

I drove from Mumbai to Belgaum last week and here are some observations -

1. Mumbai - Pune expressway remains excellent except for some patchwork post monsoons near Lonavala. Anyhow this section will soon be bypassed in the next 4-5 months once the new Missing link is opened for traffic.
2. Pune to Satara is decent with some rough patches but reasphalting work is ongoing. The completed newly surfaced roads are awesome. Not sure if this resurfacing work will be carried out for the entire 130 kms.
3. Satara to Kolhapur which is undergoing 6 laning has decently surfaced diversions. Completed 6-lane cement stretches are nice. Diversions are short and do not have speedbreakers.
4. Kolhapur to Belgaum was irritating to drive. Long diversions with rough surfaces and potholes and to make matters worse, there are unmarked speedbreakers. These bad diversions are as long as 2+ kms in some places. Even at 1 a. m, I took 2 hours 15 mins for 100 kms. Completed 6-lane cement stretches are nice but they are very few and far in between. Overall this sector is better than earlier but it is still the most painful part to drive from Mumbai/Pune to Belgaum.

Entire Satara-Belgaum 6 laning is easily 2 years away from full-fledged completion. As an immediate measure, decently smooth diversions with the removal of speed breakers should solve the problem.

Strongly recommend driving Kolhapur to Belgaum sector before 9 a.m in the morning. Night drive can be undertaken but keep in mind the unmarked speedbreakers. It will surely be frustrating during the daytime with local traffic and wrong-side traffic. Plus there are crawling sugarcane tractors and trucks (season lasts till March).

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