Melamadai flyover to bring relief to city commuters

 The Melamadai junction flyover in Madurai which is to be named after freedom fighter Velu Nachiyar by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on December 7 would be of great help in connecting key roads and easing the vehicular movement in three busy junctions.  

The 950-metre-long flyover, constructed at a cost of ₹150.28 crore and aimed at decongesting traffic at the Melamadai junction, which connects Sivaganga Road with the Aavin junction, has additional features equivalent to that of metro cities like Mumbai and New Delhi, said officials.  

Particularly, the roundabouts constructed in the junctions are aimed at allowing all vehicles, starting from two-wheelers to heavy vehicles, to move in a seamless fashion.  

“The roundabouts replacing the traffic signals would be more efficient in controlling traffic without having to halt traffic movement even for a moment,” the officials added.  

The flyover is further expected to ease traffic congestion on the Madurai-Thondi Road and from Goripalayam to Ring Road, and even further till Sellur, when all the construction works get over.  

Authorities, feeling hopeful of the introduction of such public infrastructures in even tier-2 cities like Madurai, said, “Only when the planning is aimed at a long-term goal, will the current problems be completely solved.” 

The flyover and the roundabouts which have been constructed foreseeing the population growth in 10 years from now, would completely decongest the stretch now and allow the public to have a hassle-free ride through the city roads, the officials noted.