Motorists endure torrid time at constricted Palpannai intersection on Tiruchi-Thanjavur NH

Amid the continuing stalemate over building service lanes along the city stretch of Tiruchi-Thanjavur National Highway, motorists are facing a harrowing time in their daily commute due to the worsening traffic congestion at Palpannai Junction in the city.

The intersection has been literally bursting at its seams as traffic pile ups are becoming lengthier, especially on either sides of the Tiruchi- Thanjavur NH and the service lane leading to the junction from Apollo Hospital.

“It takes nearly 10- 20 minutes to cross the intersection as we have to wait for at least three traffic signal cycles at the intersection,” says S.Sathivel, a civic activist.

In recent months, traffic pile ups have become frequent on the service lane leading to the junction from the Apollo Hospitals. Auto rickshaws and ambulances could be seen parked on the roadside along the service lane, close to the traffic signal, obstructing movement of vehicles taking a free-left towards the Gandhi Market.

The traffic police have placed a couple of temporary steel barricades at this spot, apparently to prevent motorists driving on the wrong direction along the service lane. This again has only constricted the road space.

On the opposite side, two-wheeler riders and goods carriers continue to drive on the wrong direction on the service lane to reach the junction from the Tiruchi All Perishables Commission Mandis Commercial Complex situated nearby. Although traffic police personnel are present almost right through the day at the intersection, they turn a blind eye to the rampant violations.

“The situation is going bad to worse. With bus stops located close to the traffic signal on three directions, traffic hold ups occur when the buses halt, well away from the designated places. This apart, the traffic police could often be seen intercepting and booking traffic offenders while they take the turn from the service lane towards the Thanjavur NH, forcing the vehicles coming behind to stop abruptly,” observed S. Manoharan, a resident of Rajappa Nagar.

Activists have been demanding improvements to the junction to streamline the traffic flow. “The problem could be solved to a large extent, if steps were taken to create adequate space to allow vehicles to take free-left on all four directions. For this, the road stretches should be widened and provided with clear lane demarcations/divisions,” said Mr.Sakthivel.

Land could be acquired wherever necessary. But adequate space is available on the service lane leading to the junction from the Apollo Hospital and the road only needs to be widened and provided with lane dividers, says Mr.Sakthivel, who has submitted a representation on the issue to the Tiruchi MP Durai Vaiko.

“The MP has promised to follow it up. The NHAI should carry out the junction improvement on a war footing, taking into considering the worsening traffic situation here,” he said and added that the minor bridge across the Uyyakondan Canal on Thanjavur Road, leading to the junction, should be widened too.

Sources in the NHAI said any development on the Thanjavur Road side could be taken up only as part of the service lane project, which, however, remains grounded for several years now.