If you travel frequently between Bengaluru and Chennai, you will agree that the driving experience has only worsened over the years. There is just too much traffic now – especially when you leave or enter the cities, toll gates are crowded with large trucks moving an inch a minute, and road quality is worsening. The Ranipet-Chennai stretch is horrible and the resting-pitstop areas are terrible.
Now, you can’t stop traveling, but what you can do is follow some of the pro-tips on how to make that ride back home – or to the city where you work – just a wee bit better.
1. Begin the journey at the right time
This is the most important tip. Start at the right time of the day, so you can beat the traffic both while leaving the city and reaching the other end.
The best time to start from either city is early in the morning, say 4am or 5am.
If you are leaving from Electronic City in Bengaluru, starting at 4am is better since you will beat the city traffic and reach Chennai by 10am – including pitstop delays.
If you are starting from Chennai, a little later in the morning – like 6am – is also fine. There will be less traffic in Chennai in the morning and getting out of the city is not too tough. And by the time you reach Bengaluru, the morning rush will have ended.
Leaving Bengaluru really early in the morning makes sense, especially over the weekends because the entire city is trying to get out.
But here is the catch: Don’t start driving too early if you have had a late night. It is imperative that you get enough sleep the previous night. Driving safely is the most important tip.
If you can’t drive early in the morning – especially on a weekday – then start either at 11am or after 8pm. In the latter case, you will reach your destination in the wee hours, but that is generally a bad idea because of the night-time freight traffic and darkness.
2. Zoom through highway tolls like a boss
Most frequent travelers would agree that it is at tollgates where the most time is wasted. There are way too many vehicles on each lane, and the queue moves really slow. What you need is a Fastag. One of the best ones right now is the EquitasFASTag, which enables automatic deduction of toll charges and lets you pass through the toll plaza without stopping for the cash transaction, across all national highways in the country. You can finish the entire application process online in just ten minutes and get it home-delivered, and you get a 7.5% cashback on all toll payments when you use Equitas. Get your Fastag here right away, Equitas is the only bank in the country which has delivered at your doorstep.
3. Choose your routes correctly
There are two routes between Bengaluru and Chennai – the Hosur-Krishnagiri route and the Hoskote-Chittoor route.
The Chittoor route is about 45kms shorter, but the roads are not as wide or as good as the Hosur route. There are sections of it which are single-lane, and that does not make for a good drive.
The Hosur route is mostly 4-lane, and is safer especially during the night. It has better pitstops as well.
If you stay near the Old Airport Road in Bengaluru, taking the Chittoor route is a good idea, but you still have to be mindful of the quality of the roads. If you start early, take the slightly longer but nicer one through Hosur. If you stay near Electronic City area in Bengaluru, Hosur route is better.
The Hosur route, however, has more tolls. But the tolls aren’t a problem when you have EquitasFASTag, right?
4. Fuel fill-up tips
The best plan is to fill up your fuel tank a day before your journey. This way, you will not have to bother about it when you leave.
If you are not able to do that, then drive out of the city and find a less-crowded fuel station on the highway. The ones in the city are most likely to either be shut in the wee hours, or too crowded. Most highway fuel stations are open 24/7.
5. Choose the right stops to relax and eat
Yes, the Ambur biriyani is the best thing in the world. But if you want to get to your destination faster, try and avoid the popular haunts like Star Biriyani. They are over-crowded and amidst traffic hold-ups.
If you are starting from Bengaluru, a good idea is to pick up a few burgers at the McDonalds drive-through. Otherwise, there are some wonderful small tea-shops and restaurants which serve good food. You need to explore and experiment!
What you can do immediately to start making your drive better is register online for EquitasFASTag, and pass highway tolls like a boss!
This article has been produced by TNM Marquee in association with Equitas Small Finance Bank.