Drive to Siliguri - A sudden work came up and I had to drive to Siliguri from Kolkata.
Latest Updates on the current road conditions:
Date of travel: 7th Aug 2022.
Route taken: NH12, NH19, SH13, SH6, SH8, NH12.
Total distance covered - 616 kms.
Total time taken: 14.5 hours, including breaks.
Total Toll: 645 INR.
Kolkata - Dankuni - Mogra - Kalna - Nabadwip - Krishnanagar:
Nothing to mention about this stretch. As usual it is good to very good. But still couldn't make who's actually collecting the Gouranga setu toll of 10 INR per car. Can someone give some idea?
Krishnanagar - Berhampore:
Good 4-lane divided routes. Diversions, bad road conditions at Debagram, Rejinagar. Road work is going on as always but still no result.
I took the internal route by the side of Ganges to reach Bhagirathi Setu, the bridge over Ganges. Nothing specific. Usual narrow city roads of Berhampore.
Berhampore - Farakka:
Just after crossing the bridge, a few kms ahead where the under construction Berhampore bye-pass will meet NH34 (current NH12), amazing 4-lane divided roads start till Moregram.
From Moregram till Farakka, 4-lanes continue but conditions gets a little bad. Be careful of the potholes and dangerous undulations at some places due to truck tires. Be careful and watch out.
Farakka Barrage road is where you go slow. 20 kmph is the limit. I did follow, thanks to the traffic.
Farakka - Dalkhola:
After Farakka, road conditions get back to normal. Kaliachak, Sujapur crossings have become a little more decongested with both side 4-lanes working properly, but still need lots of traffic management.
From Malda bye-pass amazing roads start till Gazole. Very good surface.
After Gazole, specially after Itahar till Raiganj, be careful of some sudden potholes. Looks at the lane markings. But majority of this stretch, is very good and newly laid at most places.
Inside Raiganj, usual congested undivided city roads. Raiganj bye-pass is almost complete. Guess few minor works remain after which it'll be open for use.
From where Raiganj bye-pass meets till Dalkhola, Purnea More, mix of excellent divided 4-lane tarmac, good undivided 2-lane roads and a flyover over the Dalkhola railway line. Overall, huge time savings and no long queue at that infamous crossing.
Purnea More - Islampur:
Worst stretch most probably. Divided 4-lane roads filled with huge potholes enough to break your rims. Try to cover during daylight. Very bad conditions. But alas, toll is being collected.
Islampur - Ghoshpukur:
Islampur bye-pass is the best stretch hands-down in this whole journey.
This continues till Ghoshpukur toll plaza. Some, very few, potholes are there. 70% of the stretch from Islampur bye-pass till the toll is concrete. The tarmac section, the remaining 30%, some potholes are there. Be sure to look out for them.
Ghoshpukur - Siliguri:
Roads are overall very good except for around 600-700m stretch where road work is going on.
As many of us know, Balason bridge is washed away and makeshift bridge is now holding the responsibilities. I got huge traffic mess-up here.
Left Kolkata at 6 AM. Reached near Balason bridge by 6:30 PM. After that till Sevoke Road, it took me 2 hours to reach due to heavy traffic.
Toll booths:
Rajchandrapur - 60 INR
Sali Bamandanga - 95 INR
Shibpur - 55 INR
Chandermore - 70 INR
18th Mile - 130 INR
Gazole - 60 INR
Surajpur - 85 INR
Ghoshpukur - 90 INR
Had lunch at Pappu da Dhaba, after Berhampore. Simple but good and tasty food and very affordable. Would recommend this place. Toilets were really clean.
https://g.page/Pappu-da-dhaba?share
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Courtesy: Arnab Chowdhury
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