Activists demand an alternative to Tiruchi-Thanjavur highway along the Uyyakondan canal

Close on the heels of motorists having a torrid time due to the worsening traffic congestion at Palpannai Junction on the Tiruchi-Thanjavur Highway in the city, motorists and civic activists have urged the State government to form an alternative road along the Uyyakondan canal in city limits.

In the absence of a service lane, motorists continue to face a harrowing time in their daily commute on the city stretch of Tiruchi-Thanjavur National Highway. In spite of numerous protests by residents of Ariyamangalam and Kattur, stalemate persists over building service lanes. It has caused chaos for traffic from Palpannai Junction to Tiruverumbur.

The intersection has been bursting at its seams as traffic pile up is becoming longer, especially on either sides of the Tiruchi-Thanjavur National Highway with a cascading effect on the service lane leading to the junction from Apollo Hospital. At times, it takes nearly 10 to 15 minutes to cross the intersection as motorists have to wait for at least three traffic signal cycles at the intersection.

The situation turns worse during the peak period from 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and 9.30 p.m. Presence of police could serve only to enforce the motorists to proceed as per the signal. But the waiting duration continues to be longer.

Considering the stalemate on the construction of service lanes and the fast growing vehicles, motorists have come with a proposal to build a new road along the bunds of the Uyyakondan canal from a point near Apollo Hospital to the downstream of the canal up to the city limits. The bund of the canal, which is maintained by the Water Resources Department, is ideal to form the road. If needed, a small portion of private land holdings can be acquired for forming the carriage way.

“Similar to the ongoing work on formation of a new road from Panjapur along the bunds of Koraiyar and the Kudamuriti to the Karur bypass, the Uyyakondan canal bund can be made a proper road. It will certainly help the authorities to reduce the volume of traffic on the Tiruchi-Thanjavur Highway,” says K.C. Neelamegam, a social activist.

He said the District Collector should convene a meeting of the officials of various departments, including WRD, Revenue, Tiruchi Corporation, and the police to explore the possibilities. In the first phase, the stretch from Apollo Hospital to Ariyamangalam could be developed as an alternative road.