Trichy Grapples With Massive Traffic Snarls Post-Pongal Festival
The conclusion of the five-day Pongal holiday on Sunday triggered a major transportation crunch in Trichy. A huge wave of people returned to the city while many others left for their destinations. This simultaneous movement created significant traffic bottlenecks across urban areas.
Critical Junctions Paralyzed by Vehicle Influx
Key intersections bore the brunt of the congestion. Palpannai junction, TVS Tollgate, and Mannarpuram experienced particularly severe traffic snarls during evening hours. The situation deteriorated noticeably as the day progressed.
City police deployed hundreds of personnel to manage the chaotic flow. Their efforts focused on regulation and control at critical points throughout Trichy.
Existing Restrictions Prove Insufficient
District authorities had implemented traffic measures earlier this month to address persistent congestion. Since January 1, heavy vehicles faced restrictions at Palpannai junction between 7am and 9pm daily.
These restrictions specifically target trucks and mofussil buses. Affected vehicles must now use the Thuvakudi-Panjapur bypass road instead of entering the city through Palpannai.
Similarly, point-to-point service buses traveling toward Thanjavur from Panjapur integrated bus stand must take the bypass route. They connect with the Trichy-Thanjavur national highway at Thuvakudi.
Why Palpannai Junction Remains Problematic
Despite these measures, Palpannai junction experienced severe choking during the holiday rush. Special buses and numerous private vehicles overwhelmed the intersection.
Palpannai serves as a crucial convergence point for multiple national highways. These include the Chennai-Trichy-Madurai and Trichy-Thanjavur routes. The junction has historically suffered from bottlenecks due to heavy commercial traffic and inadequate road infrastructure.
Transport Corporation Ramps Up Services
TNSTC operated approximately 1,000 special buses alongside regular services to accommodate travelers. These additional buses connected Trichy with numerous destinations across Tamil Nadu.
Special services ran to Chennai, Salem, Erode, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Madurai, Dindigul, Palani, Thanjavur, and Velankanni. Many other locations also received enhanced connectivity.
Authorities arranged extra city and suburban buses during peak hours. These additional services originated primarily from the integrated bus terminus.
Traffic Woes Expected to Continue
Officials anticipate continued congestion on Monday. Morning and evening hours will likely see the worst traffic as significant numbers of people enter and exit Trichy.
The post-festival travel surge highlights ongoing infrastructure challenges. City planners face persistent issues managing vehicle flow during peak travel periods.
