If Madurai City Police take a list of problem-roads, Tamil Sangam Road will figure in the Top 10.
Protruding manholes, gravel-strewn spots, vehicles lined up at a petrol pump blocking the way, share autorickshaws stopping to drop and pick up passengers – it tests one’s nerves to pass through Tamil Sangam Road.
Haphazard parking of vehicles on both sides of the road, in violation of the no-parking rule on the south side, is the biggest problem of all.
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But, Madurai police have come up with an ingenious solution to prevent parking.
They have placed barricades on the middle of the road to thwart cars from parking and blocking the traffic. Since this stretch and the by-lanes have a large number of shops selling vehicle spares and knick-knacks, it is busy all through the day and night.
Added to these are Thilagar Thidal shandy with hundreds of shops, a police station, college, a big hotel, three restaurants, departmental store and furniture shops.
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According to a shopkeeper, ever since the barricades were placed, traffic flow has been streamlined to a vast extent.
“Earlier, parked cars used to occupy the road hours together and block traffic. With the barricades in place, it is impossible to park cars now. We hope it is a prelude to constructing a permanent median,” he said.
His hope is not misplaced if one remembers the nearby North Veli Street without the medians a few years back.
After tasting success by placing barricades in the middle of the one-way stretch of Alagarkoil Road in Tallakulam ‘mess area’ to prevent parking of cars that blocked the free flow of traffic, Madurai police have done the same on Tamil Sangam Road.
Assistant Commissioner of Police A. Thirumalai Kumar said the medians served many purposes.
“Besides discouraging parking, by placing the barricades, we could save manpower. Pedestrians could cross the road safely and fatal accidents are prevented,” he also said.
Barricades have also come up recently on Scott Road and Theni highway – right from Fenner junction to Virattipathu.
Though some of them have been taken away or lying by the roadside, the ones that remain do prevent reckless overtaking, especially by the private moffussil buses.
The metal barricades are not only used like medians, they are also grouped to form a roundabout, as seen near Anna bus stand and Mattuthavani flower market.