Demolition of Periyar Bus Stand, one of the city’s oldest landmarks, and the adjacent shopping complex bus stand is set to begin soon as part of Smart City Mission with a project cost of ₹ 137 crore.
A large combined bus stand with features like a tourist plaza, underground parking and a heritage bazaar will come in its place, said Corporation Commissioner S. Aneesh Sekhar.
Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam is expected to lay foundation stone at the bus stand on Saturday to inaugurate various smart city projects in the city.
A structure has been erected on West Veli Street for the foundation stone laying ceremony and the corporation has displayed its plans under the mission through large flex boards.
“The corporation will continue the work for at least 18 months. Traffic on West Veli Street to Periyar Junction will be diverted to five temporary bus stops around the bus stand because extensive work will begin here soon,” said a senior officer from the Police Department (traffic).
In order to ease flow of traffic to Periyar Bus Stand through West Veli street, five alternative bus stops will be located on Tirupparankundram (TPK) Main Road near KPS Hotel, Mehboobpalayam, the Western Entrance of the Madurai Junction Railway, Ellis Nagar depot and Palanganatham’s Nataraj theatre.
According to the senior official, the following will be the arrangement: Buses to Tirumangalam and Kariapatti will stop at TPK Main road. Those heading to Alanganallur, Sholavandan and Vadipatti will stop at Mehboobpalayam and the Western Entrance. Buses going to Usilampatti, Chekkanoorani and Chellampatti will halt at the Ellis Nagar Bus Depot and those heading to M.G.R. Bus stand in Mattuthavani and Anna Bus Stand will stop at Palanganatham.
The official said that they have sought placement of safety barricades, signboards and caution boards at the five locations because they are busy roads which have high volume of traffic.
“Since this is an arrangement at least for two years, one must exercise caution and ensure that all safety measures are in place at these locations,” he said.
N. Aarumugam, an autorickshaw driver who works at the stand near the Periyar Bus stand, says the situation near the bus stand currently is chaotic.
“Pedestrians cross their road whenever they want and are unaware of the fact that vehicles other than buses have been diverted to use the Periyar bus stand to reach Ellis Nagar bridge and Periyar Bus Stand. More awareness must be created here,” he said.
Shopkeepers have begun vacating from the Periyar Bus Stand, says A. Sadayandi, who had a juice shop at the bus stand. “All the 447 shops shops in the bus stand will be removed as per the order of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. As part of temporary arrangements, the corporation has allocated 100 shops near the Ellis Nagar temple parking lot, Omni Bus Stand in Mattuthavani and the Fruit Market,” he said.
Mr. Sadayandi said that he would spend at least ₹1 lakh to set up his new shop. “The corporation has promised to provide a spot for each of us after reopening of the bus stand.”
Though he expects the corporation to complete its work within 18 months, he is not confident. He said that livelihood of autorickshaw drivers and platform dwellers would be affected because of these large-scale infrastructural changes.
Dr. Aneesh Sekhar said that traffic would be diverted near Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple.
“The area which once housed the Central Vegetable Market would get a multi-level car parking. Since earthwork needs to be completed, we would be diverting traffic here also,” he said.
