With serious traffic congestion caused by the closure of three manned-level crossings at first, second and third gates here leading to a lot of problems on several occasions every day, people from various walks of life have started demanding the shifting of the railway stations to Meelavittaan on the periphery.
Since the manned level crossings at first, second and third gates situated on narrow roads are closed whenever trains pass through these spots; it results in chaotic traffic congestion on several occasions and normality returns only after fifteen minutes. Consequently, the affected and irked population has started demanding shifting of Thoothukudi East and West railway stations to Meelavittan by making it a terminus.
As this place is well connected by road and already houses a separate yard for the good wagons, operation of town buses to Meelavittan will effectively neutralise the adverse effects of shunting out these railway stations, the public say.
Shifting of railway stations at Thoothukudi East and West to Meelavittan alone would provide permanent solution to the highly irritating traffic snarl being caused repeatedly by the sudden closure of the manned level crossings at the three busy spots, says A. Dhanaraj, a salt producer.
“The narrow roads passing through these busy spots have contracted further due to lack of anti-encroachment drive, usually carried out either by the urban local body or the Department of Highways. Since the vehicle population, especially the number of four-wheelers and heavy vehicles that include buses, vans and mini buses, has increased manifold in the past two decades, traffic congestion caused by the repeated closure of the manned level crossings is just unbearable. It causes untold hardship to the public, especially to students, teachers and office-goers, who have to reach their destinations before the stipulated deadline. Worse is the case of patients or accident victims being rushed to well-equipped hospitals or Thoothukudi Government Medical College Hospital for saving their lives,” Mr. Dhanaraj says.
Endorsing his views, M. Sathish Chandran, a Physical Education Teacher in a higher secondary school, argues that shifting of the railway stations situated within the town to Meelavittan on the periphery would be the appropriate and effective solution to the everlasting traffic snarl.
“The policymakers elected from the port town to the Assembly or Parliament should work in this direction so that Thoothukudi’s boundary will get extended while ensuring decongestion within the already cramped town. Since there is no scope for widening of existing narrow roads, the policymakers and bureaucrats should think of shifting the two railway stations to the periphery. Moreover, this proposal will also pave way for creation of one more road between Meelavittan and the Old Harbour along the way where railway track lies now,” Mr. Sathish says.
Traders’ association office-bearer A. Senthil Arumugam too supports it, saying that the traders who suffer a lot and significant loss of business everyday due to the traffic congestion will be much happier if the two railway stations are moved out.
However, passengers’ association office-bearer Brammanayagam is for retaining the existing railway stations within the town itself. He prescribes that creation of subways at first, second and third gate spots as a remedy for this perennial problem.
“As done at Kovilpatti, subways should be created at these three points, which will ensure the retention of railway stations while ensuring free flow of traffic,” he says.
