Bus stop on narrow stretch of road hampers free flow of traffic on Melur Road

(with pic by moorthi)

Madurai: The bus stop on Mattuthavani bus stand – K.K. Nagar road opposite to SETC Depot near district Court has been creating a bottle neck on Melur road for several years.

For this stretch of the road near the bus stop outside a private hospital is very narrow. Whenever a city bus halts for passengers to get down or get in the bus for few seconds blocks most of the carriageway.

With the traders coming with large quantity of vegetables and fruits bought from the nearby Central Vegetable Market, it takes longer time for them to load their goods into the bus and test the patience of other road users.

“With a median available closer to the bus shelter, except for smaller vehicles like autorickshaws and two-wheelers, most of the vehicles could not overtake the buses halting in the middle of the road,” complains a resident of K.K. Nagar.

Thus, it leads of piling of the vehicles for at least few metres. During peak hours, this problem is more pronounced.

The congestion caused at this bus shelters gives a cascading effect both at the K.K.Nagar roundabout and also near the district court.

Adding to the problem is the two-wheeler riders who attempt to take the wrong way from K.K. Nagar side to cross the opposite lane for reaching the petrol bunk. These bikes also block the free movement of vehicles coming from Mattuthavani.

Residents suggest that the bus stop be shifted few metres closer to the vegetable market where adequate space is available to set up bus shelter with a dedicated bus bay.

The bus bay would help halting of buses without hindering free movement of vehicles on the carriageway.

This will also spare the traders from lugging the perishable goods for longer distance before loading into the buses.