MADURAI
The Uthangudi-Kappalur Ring Road, which provides vital connectivity for commuters travelling between the districts north and south of Madurai, has remained a cause of concern over the recent years with its narrow carriageway that was unable to handle the increased traffic and innumerous potholes.
The four-laning of this 27.2 km-long road, which commenced in late 2017, raised hopes of a smooth and accident-free ride for commuters. However, with the slow pace of work, the road still remains a tough ride, mainly at the points where work is in progress.
The problem is felt acutely nowhere else than at the five-way junction at Viraganoor, where the Ring Road meets the existing Ramanathapuram Road and the newly-constructed Rameswaram Highway.
While the roundabout that existed already had issues in handling the traffic, its partial demolition now for constructing an alternative arrangement has worsened the congestion and chaos at the junction. The construction work that is in progress adjacently for a new bridge across the Vaigai river has added to the chaos.
N. Muthupandi, an autorickshaw driver from Silaiman, who frequently uses the road, pointed out that the road witnessed high-speed traffic and predominant movement of heavy vehicles. “That makes it dangerous for motorists like me with the absence of efficient regulation,” he said.
He added that, despite the presence of roundabout, the present alignment at the junction did not necessitate all the vehicles to slow down at the junction. “In particular, vehicles coming from Sivaganga Road junction, and wanting to go towards the new Rameswaram Highway or the Kappalur Road does not slow down, making it difficult for vehicles coming from other directions,” he said.
A traffic constable, posted at the junction, speaking on anonymity, said that the junction had become accident prone. “It is particularly becoming difficult for the vehicles at night time due to poor lighting and high speed of vehicles. Two wheelers are the worst affected,” he said.
“Vehicles, particularly cars, coming from other districts are not aware of the arrangement here. They come at high speed thinking that they were travelling in a highway and suddenly gets confused at the junction,” he added.
When The Hindu visited the spot over two days, many vehicles were seen getting confused between the new Rameswaram Highway and the road towards Kappalur, mainly due to lack of adequate sign boards at the junction.
N. Paramasivam, who was travelling with his family in a car from Samayapuram towards Tirunelveli, said that he took the new Rameswaram Highway wrongly. “When I was coming from Sivaganga Road junction, I took the straight road from the junction, imagining it to be the road towards Tirunelveli. Only after travelling about three kilometres, I got the suspicion that I took the wrong route,” he said.
A person working at an eatery located near the junction said that such confusion among commuters was becoming a routine affair.
The stopping of buses that go towards south of Madurai right near the junction has also added to the congestion, many commuters pointed out. S. Thirupathi, who was waiting for the bus at the junction, said that junction was not friendly to bus passengers like him and pedestrians.
“There are no bus shelters. In this scorching summer, it is miserable to wait for buses at the junction. Moreover, policemen do not seem to be present all the time, because of which pedestrians, mainly women and elders, are finding it difficult to cross the roads,” he added.
P. Dalit Raja, an activist, who had earlier submitted a petition to Madurai Collector in this regard, said that the State Highways department must have at least erected temporary bus shelters till the work is completed.
Acknowledging the issues, an official from Tamil Nadu Road Development Company (TNRDC) said that they will be sorted once the four-laning work was completed. “Though there are minor delays, the work is happening at a steady progress,” he said.
He highlighted that the present roundabout at the junction will be reconstructed and bus bays will be created near the junction to solve the problems.