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Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Fully open, Palanganatham flyover to decongest city
Madurai: Chief minister M K Stalin on Thursday virtually inaugurated the second arm of the Palanganatham road flyover in Madurai from Chennai. The project aims to ease congestion for vehicles travelling from the city to Thiruparankundram, TVS Nagar and Jaihindpuram. Constructed by the national highways wing of State Highways department, the flyover was completed at a cost of `68.38 crore. The new arm connects Palanganatham with Jaihindpuram, complementing the already operational first arm that links Palanganatham to TVS Nagar. Together, these arms replace the heavily congested railway level crossing (No. 366) between Madurai and Virudhunagar. The flyover spans 730 metre and consists of 47 piers and 51 spans, along with service roads, a stormwater drain system, and an underpass. It will improve connectivity between the western parts of Madurai such as Tiruparankundram and Kalavasal, and eastern areas including Jaihindpuram, TVS Nagar, Villapuram, Avaniapuram, and the airport zone. The project was originally proposed under the Railway Works Programme in 2006-2007, with administrative approval granted for `30 crore. An agreement was signed with the contractor in 2011 for an estimated `33 crore, and initial construction connecting Madakulam and TVS Nagar was completed by 2015. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo However, legal disputes over land acquisition delayed the Jaihindpuram arm, resulting in the termination of the earlier contractor's work in 2014. A fresh agreement was later signed with a new contractor for `18.37 crore in Nov 2022 to complete the remaining work, which was wrapped up last month. With the entire flyover now open, city officials expect significant relief for motorists navigating key traffic bottlenecks. T Nageshwaran, a transportation activist, said the project not only reduces travel time between key neighbourhoods but also promises a safer, more reliable route by eliminating the need to wait at the busy railway crossing. Though it was delayed for years, the new arm is expected to handle increasing traffic volumes efficiently and contribute to smoother intra-city transport in the years to come, added Nageshwaran.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Sticker parking system at GRH from May 5 to ease congestion
Madurai: To tackle growing congestion and streamline parking, the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) in Madurai will introduce a sticker-based parking system from Monday, May 5. The move aims to curb haphazard parking and reduce thefts within the busy Goripalayam campus. According to a statement from the dean's office, vehicle access will be regulated using official stickers issued to doctors, nurses, hospital staff, and departmental personnel. These vehicles will be allowed into designated zones inside the campus. Visitors and patient attenders must park along specially earmarked spaces near the hospital's outer boundary. Critically ill patients will be allowed vehicle drop-offs at specific medical blocks. The new system comes amid mounting complaints of traffic chaos within the hospital, worsened by a sharp rise in footfall. The recent opening of a 22-theatre surgical block, spread across 2.9 lakh sq ft and built at a cost of Rs352 crore, has added pressure on the already strained parking infrastructure. The block lacks a dedicated parking area, a shortcoming flagged by both visitors and traffic activists. GRH is one of Tamil Nadu's busiest government hospitals, serving patients from districts like Theni, Sivagangai, and Virudhunagar. On average, the campus sees over 12,000 people daily. Police estimate that more than 4,000 vehicles are parked in and around the hospital each day, causing bottlenecks and delaying emergency services. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 10 Mysterious Photos That Cannot Be Explained True Edition Undo "Ambulances and even water tankers are struggling to move inside the campus," said a hospital official, adding that outsiders also leave their vehicles inside the compound before heading elsewhere in the city. Vehicle thefts have also been reported. Past efforts, such as converting Panagal Road into a one-way, have done little to ease congestion. With inadequate parking, visitors now spill over onto nearby streets like Siva Shanmuga Pillai Road and Vaithiyanatha Iyer Road. Traffic activists have criticised the lack of planning. "The administration should have accounted for parking needs when building the new block. Now that it's about to go fully operational, the situation could deteriorate further," said T Nageshwaran, a traffic activist.
