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.

New Blr-Nilambur route

Route to Kerala from Bangalore

Thru Mysore - Calicut
----------------------
Basavanagar (Near Marthalli) - 56810 (audometer reading) - 4:15 AM
Mysore - 56966 - 6:32AM
-- Breakfast ----
Restart at 7:22AM
Gundalpet - 8:25AM
Sultanbatheri - 57079 - 9:15AM
Calicut - 57172 - 11:15AM
--- tea,snacks -----
Restart at 12:10PM
Perumbilav - 57270 - 2:15PM
--Lunch -----
Restart at 3:11PM
Kattoor (Thrissur Dist.) - 57318 - 4:22PM
Total - 508km - took 9 hrs 38 minutes - average speed 54kmph.

Ikon Alloy wheels

My collegue bought Appolo alloy wheels(4 nos.) from Madhu's. It costed 14K.

xenon light

Fitted xenon lights in my 7 years old Ikon. It costed me 12K with 5 years replacement warranty. I bought from Hot Tracks in Victoria Road, Bangalore. The performance of xenon is unmatched with the ordinary light. you can even see small potholes when you drive during night.

Car Tyres

Looking for brand new tyres for my Ikon, 175/70 R13. Thinking of buying it from Madhu's bangalore.