Traffic conundrum at Chathiram bus stand

The traffic jam that was witnessed on Sunday at Chathiram bus stand, on Karur road and Karur bypass road has raised serious questions over the efficiency of traffic management system in the city.

Vehicle users who happened to drive along Karur bypass road, Karur road and vice versa faced the heat of extended traffic jam between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. as they got entangled in it. It took at least 30 to 40 minutes for the motorists to move out of the problematic zone.

Though the western side of Chathiram bus stand that sees the exit of buses towards Srirangam, Samayapuram, Lalgudi routes and Karur and Coimbatore routes was the epicentre of traffic jam, the impact was felt right from Anna statue to Karur road and Karur bypass road. Except for a traffic policeman at the junction near Anna Arivalayam, no policemen were present to regulate the traffic.

Locals and shopkeepers say that traffic congestion on the peripherals of Chathiram bus stand is not a one-day affair. The issue persists almost on a daily basis and it turns acute on auspicious days.

It is reasoned that the public space around Chathiram Bus Stand is highly insufficient to cope up with the increasing number of cars, bikes and buses.

According to a rough estimate, there are 15 hotels and lodges in Chathiram Bus Stand area, besides a number of small to big marriage halls.

In addition to them, many restaurants and roadside eateries transact brisk business. But, except a few hotels most of them do not have parking lots.

In the absence of parking space, the motorists, who do not have any option, conveniently park their vehicles on roads, thereby shrinking the road space to a great extent.

“There is absolute chaos and confusion on roads. I had to wait for about 30 minutes to move out of Chathiram Bus Stand area. It is high time to recheck the efficacy of traffic management system,” said N. Chellapandian of Thennur in the city.

Operation of long distance buses to Ariyalur, Perambalur, Thuraiyur Chidambaram, Neyveli and other destinations from the outer area of Chathiram Bus Stand is said to be another major bottleneck that disrupts free flow of traffic. Similarly, Karur and Coimbatore bound buses are operated from the western side.

The irony is that there is no established bus stand or space for long distance buses at Chathiram Bus Stand. In the absence of it, the bus drivers operate buses from Karur road.

Source