We were crossing Kolkata region at night, so decided to take the Kalyani Expressway for onwards as traffic will be lesser.
BHPian adetour recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
Kolkata – Siliguri and return updates from our year end NE trip
Onwards direction :
- Had been in touch with @gmhossain regarding the route to take till Kalyani More while coming from South, we had been tracking the progress of Kalyani Expressway and also had briefly discussed about taking that vs Old Delhi Road on his YT update and he suggested to try out Kalyani Expressway.
- We were crossing Kolkata region at night, so decided to take the Kalyani Expressway for onwards as traffic will be lesser.
- We exited from GQ before Dankuni at 11pm, Belaghoria Toll and Expressway were pretty empty, @gmhossain had informed about the under construction direct road to current start point of Kalyani Eway being accessible, we also tracked that it was showing Google Traffic pretty much entire December, but while crossing that section, it was barricaded, perhaps due to work at night. So we had to take the next turn -> which was narrow but it was again empty at night, so we were able to quickly pass through. In day time probably it is a one way or we’d get stuck in that road. (The alternative for now is to take the Belaghoria Feeder road?)
- The first 4kms from Nimta to Muragachha More continues to be under construction, there are diversions for most of the part. We crossed Muragachha More at 1122pm. After this most of the road work is done, there is one diversion at Basudevpur More and another small one after that, but it was a quick drive from here. Kampa More is also sorted, we did not take the Kampa More – Barajaguli road as we were planning to stay at a hotel on AIIMS Road for which we had to take the Jonepur – Kulia road.
- We exited from Kalyani Eway at 1145pm at Jonepur, there was one more diversion after Kampa More. Just waiting for Belaghoria – Nimta connection to finish and Kampa More – Barajaguli flyover to open, then this route will be default.
- Jonepur – Kulia road has been expanded compared to our drive in Dec’23, many sections are done but final layer of tarmac is pending in some sections.
- It was a fantastic morning drive from Kalyani More to Krishnanagar compared to last year, the completed sections of Chakdaha and Ranaghat saves atleast 30minutes from last year.
- Road work has started on the 2lane bits between Krishnanagar and Berhampore, there was visible construction work seen except at Beldanga and Bhabta Bridge.
- Berhampore Bypass on North direction is pretty much fine, South direction is closed for resurfacing on major parts and is diverted onto this side.
- There were couple of road work directions after Moregram, especially the long one at Ahiron Bridge continues to be a diversion, can be a slow one if following slow moving vehicles as there is no scope for overtaking.
- Nothing much to update after Malda to Dalkhola, all as usual.
- Dalkhola – Ghoshpukur seems to have cyclical deterioration every few years. The section from Surjapur Toll to start of Kishanganj and then from end to Kishanganj to start of Islampur Bypass was rough, potholed, some diversions and some sections patch work has happened, couple of sections tarmac was chipped off to relay so was dusty. Islampur Bypass and the section after that was mostly good except the Chopra and Bidhan Nagar diversion.
- Traffic was let in both directions on Mahananda Barrage, the new bridge towards Ghoshpukur was blocked.
Onward timings :
- 11pm – Exit from GQ to Belaghoria Eway
- 1122pm – Muragachha More
- 1145pm – Jonepur Kulia road junction
- 654am – Kalyani More NH12
- 712am – Ranaghat
- 754am – Bethudahari Toll after Krishnanagar
- 858am to 938am – Breakfast at Pappu Dhaba, Palsanda
- 1103am – Farakka Bridge
- 1147am – Malda Bypass (Kaliachak was a bit slow even after morning peak hours)
- 1201pm to 1217pm – Refuelling at IOC COCO and quick stop at Paradesi Dhaba
- 105pm – Raiganj Bypass
- 147pm – Dalkhola NH27
- 239pm – Islampur Bypass
- 318pm to 357pm – Lunch at Highwaye Haveli, Sonapur Haat
- 414pm – Ghoshpukur
- 428pm – Fulbari Junction
Return direction :
- We crossed Fulbari at 823pm, we were contemplating whether to get into Siliguri and stay, but our friend tracking us found a recently opened hotel at Kishanganj – https://maps.app.goo.gl/BxAqFEq4xCKwD3jk9 (previously there were 2 other hotels which weren’t great, and Kanki Dham Lords Inn is above budget for us for just an overnight stay), so we decided to push to Kishanganj with some apprehension of covering that road condition in night time. But it turned out to be much better that the onwards experience.
- Mahananda River new bridge was not blocked towards Ghoshpukur, unlike the onwards drive.
- There are lots of shops selling tea powder before Paschim Madahati Toll, did not notice this in the previous years.
- Till Islampur, most of the sections are patched up, there was no big diversion at Bidhan Nagar too. The section till Islampur Bypass was pretty fast except the usual pothole sections around Bidhan Nagar and Chopra. After Islampur Bypass to Kishanganj start, many sections are patched up, there are few potholes, few rough sections but pretty much manageable at night too at decent pace.
- Kishanganj to Dalkhola also was faster than the onwards drive, perhaps many sections are patched up in a gap of 2 weeks.
- Covered Dalkhola to Malda before most of barricades were out on road.
- Kaliachak was not very bad at 830am, there was only one signal and crossed it in one go.
- Farakka Bridge had a small diversion, so atop the bridge there was stop-go in one direction, as other half they were sweeping the road.
- Berhampore Bypass almost entirely was diverted into the Northbound lane and road work is going on fully in the southbound so not much pothole issues as reported earlier here.
- Berhampore – Krishnanagar was quick as it was midday.
- 65kms before Mothers Hut, almost every km or two, there are sign boards for Mothers Hut restaurant, something which we didn’t see last year. Food was good as always.
- We were crossing Ranaghat around 130pm, and after checking which route to take to reach GQ, found that traffic was building up around Belaghoria, even though Kalyani expressway might have been fast till Nimta, was not sure of how long it would take to GQ and which exact route to take, so decided to stick to the usual Kalyani More – AIIMS Road – Kulia – Jonepur – Mogra – Old Delhi Road to Dankuni. Conditions on this route was more or less similar to last year, just that Kulia – Jonepur as reported in onwards direction has road work done and Ishwar Gupta Setu to Mogra 5km section is now fully under road work. Old Delhi Road is similar to before.
Return timings :
- 823pm – Fulbari Junction
- 838pm – Ghoshpukur
- 847pm – Paschim Madahati Toll (after a quick stop for tea powder shopping)
- 918pm – Islampur Bypass
- 949pm – Hotel Tanisha, Kishanganj
- 627am – Hotel Tanisha, Kishanganj
- 649am – Dalkhola NH12
- 715am – Raiganj Bypass
- 804am – Malda Bypass
- 839am – Farakka Bridge
- 945am to 1005pm – slow refilling at IOC Palsanda
- 1014am – Berhampore Bypass
- 1144am to 110pm – Mothers Hut, Krishnanagar
- 154pm – Kalyani More
- 211pm – Jonepur Signal
- 228pm – Mogra Old Delhi Road
- 305pm – Dankuni GQ
Both onwards and return took drive time of around ~8-8.5hrs+ between Dankuni and Fulbari Junction for the 580+kms.
Kalyani Expressway is surely faster if sections around Belaghoria are not having jams, else for now Old Delhi – Mogra route would be a safer bet until the Belaghoria – Nimta connection is done.
The Kalyani More to end of Krishnanagar Bypass is one of the best sections on this route currently along with start of Raiganj Bypass to Dalkhola.
Now some pictures :
At the end of 4km work from Nimta, just before Muragachha More
After Muragachha More where the completed section starts
The completed Chakdaha Flyover
Long and slow Ahiron Bridge Diversion
Typical scenes around Dhulian 
Typical Kaliachak scenes
Typical Kaliachak scenes
Raiganj Bypass Railway Bridge (this wasn’t open last year so we used to take a diversion)
Many sections of Dalkhola – Kishanganj are like this
2-way on Mahananda Barrage during onwards drive
Many tea powder shops before Paschim Madahati Toll from Ghoshpukur side
Recently opened Hotel Tanisha at Kishanganj is a good stopover, parking is on road but has security and cameras. Excellent rooms and food, but narrow approach road and located in narrow street, better for only night to early morning stayover due to that when roads are empty.
Farraka New Bridge, 2-3 spans are left to be connected
Diversion due to sweeping on Farakka Bridge
Work in Progress on the 2lane bits between Berhampore and Krishnanagar, this one around Rejinagar
After Debagram
Krishnanagar Bypass (notice the signboards for Mothers Hut, this starts from 60-65kms before)
Wonderful Ranaghat Flyovers
Kulia – Jonepur section where road has been expanded
Ishwar Gupta Setu, new bridge work in progress
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