Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Kochi-Bengaluru April 2016 Update

Drove from Kochi to Bangalore today (19/4/16). Some updates.
1. The KG Chavadi bye-pass (service road) is open and this saves at least 10-15 minutes. Need to be cautious during night though.
2. Chengapalli toll increased to 85. (Total toll is now 569)
2. Sankari-Tharamangalam-Omalur is relaid and is in good condition. Though there was truck traffic, it was manageable and took 45 mins (its consistent). Whereas, the Selam round-abouts are becoming a pain nowadays with lot of traffic, as I had lost lot of time in my recent trips, especially during noon.
3. Palacode-Rayakkottai-Hosur is also in very good condition. There are stretches around Rayakkotai still undergoing repair, but easily manageable.

Monday, October 26, 2015

Sathyamangalam-Dimbham route update

I took the Satyamangalam-Kollegal-Kanakapura route today while coming from Kochi to Bangalore. Just wanted to try a different route than the regular route and to avoid the potential traffic at toll booths.

Started at 7 from N. Paravur and I took the left turn (at 10:20AM) towards Annur from NH47 before Avinashi. But this comes just after the new toll booth at Chengappalli(Rs 80). So to avoid this toll we need to take a turn much before, but not sure about the road or traffic.

The roads are good all the way. The Dimbham ghat is in good condition. I made a mistake of entering the SH after Dimbham towards Kollegal. (Instead of going towards Chamarajanagar). The road surface becomes bad once you enter Karnataka. Kollegal - Malavalli - Kanakapura is in very good condition. Took a lunch break at somewhere near Kollegal (packed lunch). With a 45min lunch break, I reached home in HSR layout at 4:30. The Chamarajnagar route must have been faster. The traffic was light and there were hardly any trucks.

BTW, the total toll till Kochi from Bangalore (excluding the elevated highway) stands at 564, with the two new tolls added, one at Walayar (45) and the one at Chengapalli(80).

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

A Friday night drive and a Monday daytime return

On 22nd May 2015, Friday I started by 3PM from Bangalore and there were horrible traffic jams at Attibelle, Krishnagiri toll booths. Lost 15-20 minutes each. Took the Omalur-Sankari detour and I am sure would have saved time at the two toll booths that got skipped. It was a breeze after Sankari, only to be bogged down at Kuthiran and inside Kochi due to the Metro work. Reached home at 11:30PM.

While coming back I took the Sankari-Omalur detour as well as the Palacode-Rayakkotai-Kedamangalam-Attibelle route. The Rayakkotai-Kedamangalam-Attibelle route is excellent throughout except for a few rough stretches, which is manageable. Started at 7:30AM from N Paravur and reached E.City at 4:30PM. Had a relaxed drive, skipped 4 tolls and got a better FE.


The Sankari-Omalur detour, starts with a deviation from Sankari Byepass and gets on to the Sankari-Tharamangalam State Highway. This connecting road is a narrow single lane road with lots of twists and turns and deserted.


Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Kochi-Bengaluru Latest Update

Kochi-Bengaluru Drive - 

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zAF6S9VFuSQs.k1heaLWKVCZs

The regular NH7-NH47 route is becoming more faster owing to the new 4-lane stretches from Avinashi-Coimbatore and from Walayar to Palakkad. Also the Palakkad Thrissur stretch is being 4 laned. Total drive time is less than 7:30 hrs now, with avg speed of 72kmph.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Bangalore-Thrissur update - 10th May 2010

Bangalore - 70579 - 4:15PM
Silk board - 70591 - 4:45PM (30 minutes to pass 12km!)
-- Elevated toll - 30/-
-- Attebele toll - 20/-

Krishnagiri - 70671 - 5:50PM
--- toll - 25/-
Salem - 70671 - 6:45PM
--toll - 48/-
-- toll - 34/-
CBE by-pass - 70818 - 8:52PM
--toll - 34/-
CBE - 70933 - 9:55PM
-- toll - 31/-
Thrissur - 71050 - 12:15PM

Total toll = 222/-
Stopped for 30 minutes for fuel & refreshments.

ON return , I started at 3AM in the morning and reached Bangalore by 10:45AM
One thing I noticed is that CBE toll road is a two-line without median.
I don't think paying 31/- is worth there.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Kochi(Paravur/Aluva)-Bangalore route update (NH47-SH20-NH7) - Jan 2010

Here is an update on the Kochi-Bangalore route (via Coimbatore-Mettur-Dharmapuri-Krishnagiri-Hosur) on 2nd Jan, 2010.

Start North Paravur (05:20)
Aluva (14kms) (05:35)
-- 4 laning work going on between Angamaly and Trissur.
-- Heavy on-coming truck traffic
-- Traffic eases after Trissur, further after Palakkad
-- New Toll plaza coming up at Trissur
Breakfast at Sri Krishna BP After Ettimadai (08:10)
Restart (08:45)
Coimbatore Madukkarai Toll Plaza (08:53) Rs. 31
-- Heavy traffic after coimbatore, Avinasi
Kumarapalayam Toll Plaza (10:01) Rs. 48
-- Divided 4 lane all the way
-- Took SH 20 Mettur route from Bhavani, bye-passes Selam, saves 20km
-- Mostly Good roads, few bad stretches, pot hole filling going on. No traffic
Thoppur Toll Plaza (12:02) Rs. 34
-- Divided 4 lane all the way till Krishnagiri
Krishnagiri Toll plaza (13:02) Rs. 25
-- Divided 4 lane all the way till Hosur
-- Traffic at Hosur
-- Construction at Tn-Karnataka border, Narrow lanes, could face delays during peak hours
-- Elevated highway construction, narrow lanes at places
NICE Toll Plaza (13:58) Rs. 15 (Bannerghatta Road)
-- Bad approach road connecting Bannerghatta road (huge craters)
Lunch (14:20)
Home (15:35) Trip Meter Reading 497

Total Running Time: 8.5 Hrs
Avg Speed: 58.4 kmph
Total petrol consumed ~32liters - 15.53kmpl
Total Toll: Rs. 105
Car: 2002 Fiat Palio

Summary:
Being Saturday, the traffic was pretty less after Avinasi and could make up time on the divided highways. Situation could be totally different on Sunday evening (Holiday returns) after Krishnagiri and entering Karnataka.