Hundreds of vehicles pass through this busiest junction of the city on all three sides as the traffic signal turns green every time.
It is busy not only because all the vehicles entering the city from the south pass through this junction, but also because, it is located between two bus stands – Periyar bus stand and Complex Bus stand – from where city buses are operated.
Periyar bus stand junction or Kattabomman statue junction connects Tirupparankundram Road, West Veli Street and Ellis Nagar Road Overbridge that have wider carriage way. Considering the higher density of vehicles plying from all directions, both Tirupparankundram Road and West Veli Street have been converted into a one-way at the junction.
Thus, the junction, effectively, has vehicles coming in only from three roads though its a four-road junction.
All the three roads have got well-synchronised traffic signals along with special provision for pedestrians to cross Tirupparankundram Road and Ellis Nagar ROB at the junction.
Great relief
“Hundreds of people cross Tirupparankundram Road to reach Periyar bus stand from Complex bus stand and vice versa. The signal for the pedestrians to cross the road gives a great relief to them as all types of vehicles keep criss-crossing the junction,” said a traffic police personnel.
Similarly, another pedestrian signal is for the passengers to move out of Periyar bus stand towards railway station and Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple by safely crossing the two-way traffic on Ellis Nagar ROB.
Though this junction has better facilities with a network of closed circuit television cameras, lack of zebra crossings for pedestrians and stop lines at all three signals shows insensitivity on the part of the authorities concerned in ensuring safety of road users.
Similarly, the audacious share auto drivers haphazardly park their vehicles on Ellis Nagar ROB (entrance near Periyar bus stand) and opposite UC School, blocking free flow of traffic.
The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation officials have posted a security on the ROB to chase share autos away.
The police book several cases every day. But, the drivers continue to challenge them.
Water-logging
Any major challenge for the vehicle users at the junction is water-logging during rainy days.
The entire junction gets inundated after heavy downpour and several vehicles get stuck here after the silencers get submerged in stagnant water.
Madurai Corporation should provide better facility for faster draining of rainwater.
