Trichy: Commuters and activists have strongly criticized the authorities over malfunctioning traffic signals at the Mannarpuram intersection, blaming them for traffic chaos and a rise in accidents. They have demanded urgent repair or replacement of the signals.
Busy Junction
Mannarpuram is one of the city's busiest junctions, connecting National Highway 83, Madurai Main Road, and Race Course Road in key areas including Karumandapam, KK Nagar, Khajamalai, and TVS Tollgate. Although designed as a roundabout, the junction relies on functional traffic signals for orderly movement.
Residents' Complaints
Residents report that the signals have been unreliable and frequently out of order for several months. K Janardhanan, a 69-year-old resident of Bheema Nagar, said, “Vehicles are moving in both directions without any order, leading to frequent accidents. The traffic signals must be repaired immediately to make the junction accident-free.”
Worsening Situation
The problem has escalated since the Kalaignar Karunanidhi Integrated Bus Terminus was inaugurated in Panjapur last year. Many passengers now alight at Mannarpuram and jaywalk across the busy road to catch connecting buses to the Central bus stand, further worsening safety concerns due to inadequate traffic regulation. Residents also lamented that the junction was excluded from the recent upgradation of traffic infrastructure at several locations, including near Cantonment and the airport, which cost ₹1.6 crore.
Official Response
A senior police official stated that defunct and dysfunctional traffic signals across the city, including at Mannarpuram, would be replaced depending on the availability of funding in the coming days.
