The damaged parapet wall of Mayor Muthu bridge on TPK road in Madurai.
| Photo Credit:
R. ASHOK
The growing population and the increasing number of vehicle users have increased the need for better road infrastructure to facilitate a hassle-free traffic movement.
Madurai city is no exception to this trend. According to official records, the city has witnessed an increase of at least 40% car population in the last five to six years.
The city, despite falling under the tier-II category, does not have much of a difference from the other metropolitan cities in terms of traffic and population. However, the linear and curved elevated structures crisscrossing the city are to a certain extent a relief to commuters from the exhausting traffic.
Since many of the bridges were constructed about 10 years ago and a few even more than 10 years, the need for renovation and repair works is more than ever.
Mayor Muthu bridge, built about 40 years ago, has been an important one connecting Periyar bus stand and Tirupparankundram road.
Also, vehicles from Tirupparankundram and Tirumangalam, to reach Periyar bus stand, predominantly make use of the bridge. But, owing to the rampant usage of the bridge by heavy loaded vehicles, the bridge started getting damaged.
Learning about the cause of damage, the district administration even imposed restrictions on the bridge usage and also fixed a speed limit for vehicles.
About ₹3.30 crore was allotted for the renovation works of the bridge. As the pillars of the bridge were repaired, the overall structure of the bridge remained as it was.
“The bridge railings and the movement joints, as they suffered heavy vibrations, started weakening,” said Manickam, a shopkeeper on the Tirupparankundram road.
Due to that, the commuters faced discomfort while driving over the bridge, he added. Also, due to the unstable structure, the commuters felt unsafe while driving over the bridge, Mr. Manickam said.
A State Highways Department official said that as they have got the acceptance of the railways to reconstruct the bridge, they would soon start the process to get the nod from the State government.
As they were waiting for permission from the railways, they could not carry out the repair work on the bridge. Now, as they have got the assent, the necessary work would follow, the official added.
The South Gate bridge connecting Villapuram is also in a shambles requiring immediate repair and renovation.
V.V. Sundaram, a resident, said that the only bridge connecting the city with the airport was used by many vehicles’ day in and day out.
“The situation during peak hours is appalling since all the vehicles jostle with one another to move forward, leading to choking traffic. Another dimension of the problem is that the entire stretch of the parapet of the bridge is in a dilapidated condition that makes riding the vehicle unsafe at night,” he added.
Certainly, the bridge needs to be broadened. If it is not possible, an alternative solution must be arrived at to ease congestion.
Ward 47 councillor M. Banu raising the issue during the corporation council meeting, said that the iron rods protruding from the damaged parapet of the rail overbridge could end up dangerous to anyone at any time.
“Since the way is too narrow, the vehicles go close to the walls when the way is too crowded during peak hours. If one slips over the walls, it will surely lead to accidents,” she added.
Another major issue with the bridges is the underutilisation of the infrastructures.
Among other bridges, the 140-year-old iconic Albert Victor Bridge, a British era construction over Vaigai river, still stands tall and plays a key role in connecting the southern and northern parts of Madurai.
The city’s cultural symbol which played an important role in transportation other than a few minor repairs could be considered as a stable construction. However, to reduce the burden of vehicular movements on the bridge, a bridge is being constructed parallel to the AV bridge.
Palanganatham-TVS Nagar road overbridge despite opened by the Chief Minister M.K. Stalin recently to public, it is not generally preferred by vehicle users.
C. Muthaiah, a resident of Vasantha Nagar, said that as the overbridge only connects TVS Nagar and Jaihindpuram only a handful of people use that.
“Those vehicles from Palanganatham instead of travelling about 0.5 km to take the overbridge, prefer to use the service road. Even those who are going to residential areas of Jaihindpuram, prefer the usual road,” he added.
However, he said that a few have started using the overbridge for walking and exercises in the mornings and evenings.
Though the heavy vehicles from Villapuram could be made to use the overbridge instead of entering the city, the narrow service roads make it impossible for the drivers to turn their vehicles onto the roads, Mr. Muthaiah said.
Had it been planned better, the bridge could have been used by many people, and it would have been worthful for money spent on it, he observed.
Another similar underused important road is the Thenkal Kanmai bund road connecting Tirupparankundram area with Vilacheri.
V.P. Manikandan, a social activist based in Madurai, said that the road, despite being built and kept ready for public usage, due to minor pending works, has been kept closed for several months.
Though it is an important road to connect Tirupparankundram and Vilacheri, as it is kept closed, many are still using the longer one adjacent to the elevated road, he added.
Also, even when the road is unopened, two-wheelers tended to jump onto the road from Vilachery side. When the vehicles took the Tirupparankundram road, it could collide with the approaching vehicles, he added.
A State Highways Department official said that as electricity connection to the road is still incomplete, as per the police’s suggestion for road safety, it has been closed for public use.
Now, as electric poles have arrived and places are earmarked, it would be done in a week, he added.
“As it is a one-way road, no vehicles would be allowed from Vilachery once the road is fully opened,” the official noted.
