BHPian Balaji13rk recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
Hey all, I stay in Thuraipakkam OMR and I commute to Kumbakonam once in month for last 2 years. I feel the easiest way to Kumbakonam from OMR, ECR region is below.
Thuraipakkam - Sholinganallur - Navalur - Kelambakkam bypass - Thiruporur bypass - join ECR at poonjeri junction (this kinda saves me a toll at Uthandi, and roads are also neat) - Pondicherry - kanniyakoil - take right(land mark Indian oil petrol pump) to join Kadalur bypass - join Chidambaram bypass at Karaikadu - enjoy the newly laid NH32 - exit to kattumanargudi NH81 - drive till meensuruty - take left to join NH36 - Anaikarai bypass and reach Kumbakonam.
Been using this for last 2 months and on average I take 4.5hours for door to door from thuraipakkam to Kumbakonam, maintaining safe and steady 80kmph speed in good roads. Do enjoy fuel at discounted rate at Pondy petrol pumps. I usually fill tank and it saves 300-400 rupees at ease.
Return route is also same, one minor correction we can’t take Kelambakkam bypass.
Toll: 125 at Cuddalore bypass and 45 Kattumannarkoil bypass.
Driving in ECR from Poonjeri to Pondy is now becoming pain due to ongoing road works.
Once ECR 6 way is done, even sub 4 hour travel from Kumbakonam - Chennai seems possible.
Other routes I used earlier:
Route 1:
Thuraipakkam - Sholinganallur - Thiruporur - Chengalpattu - Villupuram - Ulundhurpet - virudhachalam - Jayankondam- Kumbakonam
Now avoiding this due to heavy traffic and heavy tolls.
Route 2:
Thuraipakkam - Sholinganallur - Thiruporur bypass - Pondy - Kadalur - Vadalur - Sethiyathope - Meensuruty - Anaikarai - Kumbakonam
Incomplete road works and Bridge works at Sethiyathope was a pain, haven’t taken this route for last 6-7 months at-least. This route has zero tolls
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