Highlighting rapid urbanisation leading to traffic congestion at key junctions in Madurai, two public interest litigation petitions filed before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court sought construction of elevated corridors to decongest arterial roads.

Commuters said the need of the hour was to construct the flyovers like the one at the Melamadai junction, Goripalayam and elevated corridor on New Natham Road.

The recent petition filed this week sought the construction of a flyover or grade separator at Viraganoor junction. The petitioner advocate G. Theeran Thirumurugan said the Viraganoor junction constitutes one of the most important traffic intersections.

He pointed out the junction connects Madurai with the southern districts and it was a major access corridor to Madurai International Airport. Vehicles coming from the northern and the central districts travelling to the southern districts also pass through this junction.

Over the years, traffic volume at the junction has increased manifold. However, the existing traffic infrastructure was grossly inadequate to accommodate the traffic density. During peak hours, thousands of vehicles experience prolonged delays and severe congestion, he said.

It became more difficult for commuters during major festivals, political conferences, visits of dignitaries and public events, he said.

He sought a direction to the authorities to revisit and reconsider the feasibility study and the technical reports already undertaken in respect of the Viraganoor Junction. He also sought a direction to authorities to carry out further technical assessment required in the light of traffic density, recurring traffic congestion, road safety concerns, and future traffic projections. The court has sought the response of the State.

In 2024, a similar petition was filed before the court seeking a direction to the authorities to construct a flyover between K.K. Nagar junction and the Agriculture College and Research Institute at Othakadai in Madurai.

The petitioner advocate A. Arun Ramnath of Othakadai said there were several commercial establishments on both sides of Melur road. There was traffic congestion, he said.

He pointed out that earlier reaching the High Court was easier. But, it had become a task for the advocates, court staff and the general public to travel along the arterial road. There were markets, bus stands, hotels, hospitals, shops, marriage halls and other establishments along the road. People used the road to reach the National Highway and there was heavy traffic on the weekends and holidays, he said.

He said the elevated corridor on the New Natham Road had made travel easier and time saving. A similar flyover should be constructed between K.K. Nagar junction and Agriculture College to ease traffic congestion. It was the duty of the government to provide roads and facilities to ensure smooth and safe travel, he said. The court had sought a feasibility report.

Advocate R.M. Arun Swaminathan said lakhs of people were using Melur road. There was a need for authorities to conduct a study on the number of people and vehicles using the road. The construction of the flyover was the need of the hour, he said.

Agri and All Trade Chamber president S. Rethinavelu said Viraganoor junction has become chaotic. With Keeladi in the vicinity and the tourism sector picking up rapidly, there was no alternative but to construct a flyover, he said.

Earlier, when there was a proposal to construct the elevated corridor on the New Natham Road, many had opposed it. However, it has now turned into a boon, he said, adding that a proper study should be conducted before constructing the flyover.

In April this year, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court directed Madurai Corporation and other authorities to remove the entrance arch in K.K. Nagar and similar other arches that were causing hindrance to the free flow of traffic, in three months.

The petitioner M. Saravanan said vehicular traffic in Madurai had increased manifold and the concrete arch occupied substantial road space and caused traffic congestion. He said the entrance arches, originally constructed to demarcate entry points to the city, have outlived their purpose and were now obsolete.

In September 2024, the court while hearing a similar petition filed by S. Jainab Beevi had directed the authorities to remove the entrance arch near the MGR bus stand in Mattuthavani and the entrance arch in K.K. Nagar. It was open to the authorities to install bigger arches, the court had said.