For many office-goers, crossing Melamadai junction will be a major mental block, for at times traffic congestion will test their patience. It connects Sivaganga Road with Aavin junction, and Anna Nagar 80 Feet Road with Lake View Road.
The junction gains significance as it connects Mattuthavani integrated bus stand with Anna Nagar and Teppakulam areas. Besides, it is an inevitable junction for ambulances from neighbouring districts like Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram to reach Government Rajaji Hospital. Many hospitals are located around this junction.
Except for Sivaganga Road, all the other roads are wider or have good scope for further widening that could decongest traffic at this junction by providing free left turn.
The median on Sivaganga Road (between Aavin junction and Melamadai junction) has effectively regulated traffic flow to the junction.
However, the location of a minor traffic island where the statue of Thaninayagam Adigalar is placed on 80 Feet Road is causing much congestion. After road widening, it is now placed some five feet into the left lane of two-way carriage way.
As a result, if a bus or lorry stops at the signal, no vehicle could cross the junction, taking advantage of the free left turn. It results in piling up of vehicles on 80 Feet Road.
The widening work on both sides of Lake View Road is incomplete with big gravels left on the widened portion. “Vehicles avoid this portion as many two-wheelers have fallen down due to the rough surface,” a traffic police personnel said.
Similarly, the junction widening work proposed for the left turn from Sivaganga Road is yet to be taken up.
“The traffic island with the statue has to be moved either to the middle of 80 Feet Road or to the middle of the junction for smooth flow of traffic,” said V. Karunaianandan (75), a retired LIC Manager, who daily crosses this junction.
“It is important to widen Sivaganga Road, which is a major bottleneck at the junction. Till such time, the police should ensure that no share autorickshaw is halted near Pandimuniswarar Temple to pick up or drop passengers,” he said.
Vehicle users not bothering about ‘Stop Line’ on all four roads is a major cause of congestion. “Vehicles are stopped in the middle of the junction, blocking the flow of vehicles from other sides,” Mr. Karunaianandan said.
This is more problematic on Sivaganga Road where jumping of ‘Stop Line’ by vehicles results in blocking of way for vehicles coming in other directions. A big traffic island in the middle can be a long-lasting solution for safe crossing of the junction.
