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.