Residents living along the V.O. Chidambaram Pillai Road and motorists commuting through the narrow road have been facing a harrowing time ever since traffic diversions were enforced for constructing a new bridge near the Railway Junction.
The road, which links the Collector’s Office Road and the Central Bus Stand, has become one of the most congested, leading to frequent traffic jams.
Although the road has been used for heavy vehicle (passenger) traffic for several years, it was mainly used by the mofusil buses coming from Dindigul Road.
Now, the narrow stretch, which has an acute curve near a church, is taken by a large number of mofusil buses coming from Chennai, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, and Dindigul. Some of the city buses also ply on it. It means that buses continue to ply on V.O.C Road for every few seconds.
With the road not broad enough to accommodate two-way traffic on some stretches, there is mayhem on the road.
Although the drivers know the nature of the road, they still drive at a high speed of 50 kmph, endangering the life of pedestrians, other motorists and residents of nearby houses and apartments.
“We don’t understand the rationale behind the diversion of almost all buses on a single road without studying its capacity. We would have welcomed it if the diversion was made after widening the road at least on a temporary basis,” says C. Balasubramanian, Honorary President, Tiruchi District Exnora.
The situation becomes worse on auspicious days when the people visit a marriage hall situated along the road to attend marriages and other functions by cars, vans, and two-wheelers.
Adding to the woes is the gaping manhole near the bus stand which has not been covered for more than 20 days.
The current situation poses big concern to the residents and road users of the nearby areas as they may have to undergo the ordeal until the completion of Railway Bridge. It means that most of the buses will continue to ply on the narrow road for at least four years.
While expressing serious concern over the operation of buses at high speed, Mr. Balasubramanian said that there were instances of drivers hitting the compounds of residential houses and the army quarters. There was an urgent need to widen the road.
The administration could certainly get a small portion of defence land at least on a temporary basis to expand it.
Otherwise, temporary bus stands could be established on different locations to reduce traffic congestion on V.O.C Road and the Central bus stand.
