Absence of Periyar Arch calls for junction improvement works near K.K. Nagar roundabout

Demolition of Periyar Centenary Memorial Arch at K.K. Nagar junction has eased movement of vehicles, especially buses on both lanes.

Otherwise, the left pillar of the concrete structure stood on the near middle widened carriage way blocking free flow of traffic from Melur Road towards 80 Feet Road at K.K. Nagar. The other pillar was serving as a shield providing unauthorised parking of vehicles on the road margin abutting one of the busiest traffic junctions.

In a way, the pillars were regulating vehicle movement by slowing down their movement. They were serving as medians for vehicles from the junction proceeding towards K.K. Nagar Main Road. However, after its demolition on July 18 night, it has speeded up the traffic flow in the last one week.

This is also leading to sudden piling up of vehicles at the entrance of the 80 Feet Road with vehicles coming from Melur Road and from District Court complex side at relatively higher speed.

This small junction is now in a mess as vehicles from two more roads -- KK Nagar Main Road and the other land of 80 Feet Road (coming from Aavin junction) -- converge. Vehicles taking right turns -- from K.K. Nagar Main Road towards K.K. Nagar roundabout and those from Aavin junction lane towards K.K. Main Road cause a bottleneck here.

The location of the Bus Stop at this very entrance of 80 Feet Road adds to the congestion as not just buses, but also autorickshaws halt in the middle of the carriage way leading to piling-up of vehicles.

This new traffic congestion calls for traffic improvement works.

An immediate solution will be provision for speed-breaker to slow down vehicles coming from Melur Road and K.K. Nagar towards 80 Feet Road to make this junction safer where vehicles move in multiple directions from three different roads.