I have done the short cut to the Beach Road a couple of times and managed to get lost the first time
It's worth it if you are heading off to the beach for the day, it does cut a bit off your journey time if you walk around, but only if you head off up towards Bangla Road once you hit Beach Road. If you get to Beach Road and turn right, then you might as well use Rat-U-Thit 200 Pee Road and turn left at the lights where the school is.
I haven't done the short cut at night and I agree with the earlier comments about not doing it - it's not a straight path and you could end up in some local's
room quite easily !!