Highways in India: How the roads to North East from South have evolved

We have been travelling on these routes for the last 7-8 years & adapting our drives based on the route that offers the best road conditions and better timings for that year.

BHPian adetour recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Route to NE, over the years

TLDR: Read on if interested in knowing how much the road to NE from South has evolved

We've constantly been on the Bangalore/Chennai to NE route for the last 7-8 years and have been tracking the various changes and evolution. If you'd gone through the sheet snippet of all the drives in detail, you'd notice that the onwards-return drive route mainly between Kolkata and Siliguri would have changed through the years. We have been adapting our onwards-return drive based on the route that offers the best road conditions and better timings for that year.

NE 2016 & 2017:

NH5 (new NH16) as it was called back in those days, was fully 4 laned (no 6 laning work too) after Vijayawada. It was the longer old alignment through Tadepallegudem, Tanuku, Ravulapalem. Crossing Vizag had to be planned properly, as there was no Bypass yet, it used to take an hour in the best case and even 2.5 hours in peak hours for the 60kms from the end of Anakapalle to Anandapuram through Gajuwaka and MVP old bypass route.

Up East, it was the days of the Bhagalpur route, with a dilemma of Deogarh vs Dumka. Deogarh route used to be a bit better, with lesser truck traffic. There was no question of the Malda route in these years, we had only heard about the infamous Farakka and Dalkhola jams, bad roads, etc and stayed away from it. We never ventured on the Suri, Rampurhat routes as they were also infamous for truck jams.

There was no proper Fulbari Bypass from Ghoshpukur, we used to go across Siliguri town from Bagdogra to Sevoke, and then take the Damdim - Chalsa - Banarhat route.

NE 2016 onwards drive, NE 2017 onwards and return drive route

Kolkata Bypass - Dankuni - GT Road - Burdwan Bypass - Durgapur - Asansol Bypass - Jamtara - Palajori - Sarath - Deogarh - Katoria - Banka - Bhagalpur Bypass - Vikramshila Setu - Naugachhia - Purnea Bypass - Dalkhola NH27 - Islampur(no bypass back then) - Bagdogra(no Fulbari Bypass back then) - Siliguri Town - Sevoke Coronation Bridge

Roads used to be 2 laned all the way from Asansol Bypass to Purnea Bypass on this route (it still is!), but the 2 laned roads were generally good. We took the Deogarh, Banka route in 2016,17 also because the Dumka - Hansdiha wasn't great. Closer to Bhagalpur, trucks used to be parked for kms together, to cross Vikramshila Setu from evening/night, we got small jams at times, but nothing major.

NE 2016 return drive, was similar as above, but a small change from Palajori

Sevoke - Siliguri - Dalkhola NH27 - Purnea Bypass - Naugachhia - Vikramshila Setu - Bhagalpur Bypass - Banka - Katoria - Deogarh - Palajori - Gumro - Anguthia - Tarapatiya - Nala - Runakuraghat Bridge - Asansol Bypass - GT Road - Dankuni

We used to experiment with such routes in the interiors of Jharkhand, they were actually pretty good with nice landscapes too

NE 2019:

Vizag Bypass was partially constructed with a lot of diversions and road work through Sabbavaram and Pendurthi towns. We "tried" this route for the onward drive, it was as bad as the traditional NH5 route, as a lot of trucks were taking it, jams and diversions, no time was actually saved. 6-lane road work and other flyover works had commenced from Anandapuram towards Palasa, so this sector became slower than before due to diversions. There was some road work that had started between Bhubaneshwar and Bhadrak too. We took the Vizag town NH5 route on return, but ended up in evening peak hours, so it took 2+ hours to cross, even with some detours through Simhachalam to NAD junction.

Onwards route :

Kolkata Bypass - Dankuni - GT Road - Asansol Bypass - Nala - Masalia - Dumka Bypass - Hansdiha - Bhagalpur Bypass - Naugachhia - Purnea Bypass - Dalkhola NH27 - Islampur - Siliguri

Nala route was a popular and quicker choice now over the Jamtara route, it was a very good 2-lane road. This year, Dumka - Bhagalpur was in very good shape too, so no more Deogarh route. Due to the effects of CAA-NRC protests, we got delayed by 1.5 hours in Kolkata Bypass(this was the day trains were burnt), so we ended up in truck timings on Bhagalpur Bypass. Crossing Bhagalpur was a big mess due to trucks lined up and being let through, we saw 1000s of trucks.

Return route :

Siliguri - Islampur - Dalkhola town - Raiganj - Malda Bypass - Farakka Bridge - Morgram - Panchgram - Kuli - Nutanhat - Burdwan town - GT Road - Dankuni

To avoid any CAA-NRC protests, we decided to do a night drive through West Bengal. Night drive on the Bhagalpur route was a big no due to truck traffic. So we tried the Malda route, as we had always heard that this route was best done at night. There was fog all the way from Dalkhola to Farakka, so progress was slow. Bengal 2 Bengal route from Dhantola to Botolbari was famous in those days for avoiding Dalkhola jam (funnily Google still suggests it even today! ). Since it was night time and fully foggy, we decided to stick to the NH. We somehow crossed the Dalkhola jam within 20 minutes luckily, it was a relief having heard people get stuck for hours. Dalkhola - Raiganj had 4 laning road work with diversions, we just followed a Kolkata Volvo which was doing decent pace in fog. Crossing Raiganj was okay, after which we got the newly done 4-lane road, but due to fog, the pace was very slow all the way till Kaliachak IOC, but there was hardly any traffic. After this fog reduced a bit, crossing Farakka also was easy, there were no jams, maybe due to the fog. The 4 laned roads continued although with few diversions till Moregram. We took the then-famous route of Moregram-Burdwan. It was around 120kms of 2 laned roads, with trucks for company and huge speed breakers, around 50 of them. It took over 3 hours for this section, road conditions was just okay.

NE 2020

Onwards route :

NH5 - Kharagpur - Salboni - Bishnupur - Bankura - MTPS - Raniganj - Asansol Bypass - Nala - Masalia - village detours near Dumka - Jama - half broken bridge - Barapalasi - Hansdiha - detour for border jam - Bhagalpur Bypass - Purnea Bypass - Araria - Bahadurganj - Thakurganj - Panitanki - Bagdogra - Siliguri

From Bangalore, Chittor - Tirupati route was under 6 laning all the way. Massive 6-laning work had started all across GQ. From Gannavaram after Vijayawada, all the way to Eluru toll, it was a narrow service road as the main road was under road work. After Eluru Bypass, the old Tanuku route was rough and potholed. Rajahmundry - Vizag was luckily okay. From the learnings of 2019, we had planned crossing Vizag in the early morning hours, it was very peaceful. Vizag - Palasa, a few 6 laned sections were done, many were still diversions. Phew, after crossing AP, entire Odisha almost from Ganjam till Balasore had 6 laning work, flyover work, diversions continuously.

We had learnt that the direct Kharagpur to Raniganj road via Bishnupur, Bankura was done and a good choice now, faster than the 120kms longer route via Kolkata Bypass, Burdwan. We had stayed at Kharagpur to do this 2-lane section early morning, and it was a quick drive, very good roads. Nala route was very good to Dumka. But now we had another puzzle to solve, as both river bridges around Dumka were broken in the Monsoon, there were people "helping" to cross the river through the stones over the riverbed, but it was time-consuming one.

Trucks were taking the Basukinath route and it was jammed. In between both, we had a detour route via Jama to Barapalasi, athlough with a rough road leading to a partially bent bridge over Mayurakshi river, just enough for cars to cross it. We somehow crossed it, Dumka - Bhagalpur was good, except for a truck jam at the JH-BR border for which we took another detour. Deogarh route was bad that year and hence all this adventure via Dumka.

Similarly, Dalkhola - Islampur - Bagdogra NH27 had gone very bad, with lots of reports of rough surface and crater potholes all the way. At the same time, Araria - Thakurganj - Siliguri was properly 2 laned tolled road and was a better alternative. We took this road between Araria and Siliguri both onwards and return, except for diversions for couple of broken bridges around Jokihat, it was a good 2 laned road all the way. Totally out of <700kms, only around 40-50kms were 4 laned, rest were all 2 laned roads.

Return route :

Siliguri - Thakurganj - Araria - NH27 E-W corridor all the way to Jhansi

All of us in the group decided to return via the North India route, with a visit to long pending Orchha. Was such a relief from all the detours, diversions and was a peaceful return drive

NE 2022

Onwards and return route :

NH5 - Kolkata Bypass - Dankuni - Mogra - STKK Road via Kalna, Nabadwip, Gouranga Setu - Krishnanagar - Berhampore Swami Akhandananda Sarani Rd Bypass - Malda Bypass - Raiganj - Dalkhola - Islampur Bypass - Fulbari Bypass - Jalpaiguri Bypass - Dhupguri - Telipara

Huge changes within 2 years in all sections. We took the exact same route for onwards and return

• Chittor - Tirupati was 6 laned, road work on Renigunta - Naidupeta had started.
• Vijaywada Benz Circle flyover was done. Gannavaram - Bhimadole was fully 6 laned.
• New greenfield route from Bhimadole to Diwancheruvu bypassing Rajahmundry was the default new NH16 now, saving 30-40kms and lots of time compared to Tanuku route.
• Vizag Bypass was partially 70% ready and actually motorable except for Sabbavaram and Pendurthi Bypasses.
• Vizag - Srikakulam - Narasanapeta was superb 6 laned road. Narasanapeta - AP Border was superb 4 laned road with 6 laned bridges.
• Ganjam - Barkul - Tangi was good 4 laned surface, with 6 laned Bridges.
• 200 kms from Tangi to Ranital after Bhadrak was fully 6 laned, with just 5-6 flyover work pending and diversions for that.
• Ranital - Balasore 50kms was the remaining painful section, lots of diversions for flyover work still, not much had progressed since 2020 days.
• WB section after Jaleshwar to Kharapur had concrete road maintenance and Emergency runway creation. So it had lots of speed breakers and diversions, this section was slow.

Kolkata - Siliguri section had also vastly improved due to Old Delhi Road and STKK Road connectivity to Krishnanagar.

• Dankuni - Mogra Old Delhi road was 4 laned SH, many trucks had not started taking this route in 2022.
• Mogra - Kalna - Nabadwip - Gouranga Setu - Krishnanagar was a very good 2 laned SH, although with 3 railway crossings.
• Krishnanagar - Berhampore initially had road work on Krishnanagar Bypass, after which was 4 laned except few sections of 2 laned road at Debagram, Beldanga, Bhabta.
• The famous local bypass for Berhampore in 2022 was via Swami Akhandananda Sarani Rd, which was narrow, still took 25 minutes to cross, but avoided the main road jams. Berhampore NH Bypass didn't seem anywhere near completion.
• Berhampore - Malda was the usual 4 laned road, except Farakka Bridge and small jams of Kaliachak Market.
• Raiganj Bypass was not yet ready, so it was the old 2 laned Bypass.
• After Raiganj, it was superb 4/6 laned roads all the way with newly done and recently opened sections bypassing Karandighi, Domohona, and most importantly Dalkhola!
• Islampur Bypass was ready
• Fulbari Bypass was mostly ready except the section from Mahananda Barrage which was 2 laned. This was crucial in completely bypassing Siliguri and saving lots of time. This also meant the route to NE via Jalpaiguri Bypass can be taken, which was 4 laned till Dhupguri and then 2 laned to Telipara.

The Dankuni - Mogra - Nabadwip - Krishnanagar route

Crossing Berhampore via Swami Akhandananda Sarani Rd since Bypass wasn't completed

Fulbari Bypass ensuring complete change in route instead of Sevoke route

Finally coming to NE 2023

Most of the changes have been covered in NE 2022 above. The changes in NE 2023 were :

• Vizag Bypass is fully done except for a 500m diversion, it is a quick 30 minutes to bypass Vizag very easily.
• More sections of Tangi - Bhubaneshwar flyover work is done, there are only 2 diversions near Bhubaneshwar, which although can get jammed in evening peak hours.
• Ranital(Bhadrak) - Balasore has improved, many unmarked 6 laned sections are open, but still 4-5 major diversions pending.
• WB section from Jaleshwar to Kharagpur is now not an issue, only small 1-2 diversions, Runway is fully done.
• With more sections of 4 laning done between Kalyani More and Krishnanagar, this gave us another option in 2023, Mogra - Ishwar Setu - Kalyani Expressway - Jonepur - Kulia road - Kalyani AIIMS Road - Kalyani More - Chakdaha - Ranaghat - Krishnanagar, as an alternative compared to the 2 laned STKK road via Nabadwip.
• These two routes should be decided on the go based on traffic jam at Ranaghat and traffic at Goruranga Setu. Trucks have started taking STKK road, and it is slower than 2022 definitely. We took Ranaghat route both ways in NE 2023.
• The road till NH12 Kalyani More, is a mix of 2L + flyover work + 4/6L + village road + 4L AIIMS road.
• After Kalyani More, we are on NH12 all the way, many unmarked 4 laned sections have opened up.
• Flyover is pending at Chakdaha, which may cause small jam sometimes.
• 4kms of Ranaghat is the only painful stretch of this route, flyover work + railway gate + 2 flyover work + river bridge. It would take 20 minutes in the best case (worse can be upto our imagination, that's why STKK is still a good alternative based on traffic). There are some detours on the North to South direction through Ranaghat town to reach close to the railway gate, only few are drivable.
• After Ranaghat, many sections are majorly done, even Gobindapur Railway Flyover has opened in December, so it is quick progress to Krishnanagar. Krishnanagar Bypass is fully done too.
• Berhampore Bypass is fully done except for a small diversion (Hoogly Bridge is done only on one side). Easily saves 30 minutes.
• Raiganj Bypass is done and driveable except for a detour through narrow roads and railway gate for the pending Railway Bridge. But easily saves 20 minutes.

The new routing via Ranaghat

Berhampore Bypass completed

Raiganj Bypass can be taken with a detour

To sum up

NH16 as well as Kolkata - Siliguri has vastly improved. Out of ~560kms between Dankuni and Ghoshpukur, only 25-30kms is 2 laned or has road work via the Ranaghat route. That's 530+ kms of 4 laned roads. On the STKK route, it is ~85kms of 2 laned roads, that's still 475+ kms of 4 laned road. The key is to check the traffic conditions at Ranaghat and Goruanga Setu and decide the route.

Yes the entire WB is full of barricades, totos on road, etc ensuring the average speeds are lower than OD or AP, but it is still a huge improvement over the decade as Kolkata - Siliguri can be done in under 10 driving hours comfortably. Bhagalpurs and Dumkas are yesteryear's route.

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