In the heart of Madurai, a persistent standoff between convenience and regulation is causing daily traffic chaos at the busy Kalavasal Junction. Despite repeated official requests and the removal of the official stop years ago, residents and commuters continue to use the area in front of Jayaram Bakery as their primary bus stop, forcing both government and private buses to treat it as a de facto halt.
Commuters Defend Convenience, Google Maps to Blame
The sheer number of passengers waiting at the spot makes it impossible for buses to ignore. M Kumaran, a regular commuter, voiced the popular sentiment, stating that the junction is too convenient to abandon. He pointed out that all buses stop there, it offers better connectivity, and crucially, it is marked as the Kalavasal Bus Stop on Google Maps. This digital validation has cemented its use in the public's mind.
Echoing the benefit, V Akash, a college student traveling between Palanganatham and Arapalayam, explained that this unofficial stop allows him to easily catch connecting buses without paying for an auto or walking to another designated stop.
Shopkeepers and Traffic Police Grapple with Chaos
For local businesses and traffic managers, however, this convenience comes at a high cost. M Muthusamy, a shopkeeper at the junction, described the daily scene of traffic congestion caused by crowds waiting for buses. The lack of a formal stop means buses halt unpredictably, sometimes moving forward a little, leading to passengers running alongside them. He noted that even when people are shooed away, they return within minutes.
A traffic policeman on duty expressed helplessness, confirming that requests for people not to use the spot are ignored. "When buses also stop here, it is hard to say anything," he admitted, highlighting the cyclical nature of the problem: people wait because buses stop, and buses stop because people wait.
Authorities Seek Solutions Amid Enforcement Challenges
Officials from various departments acknowledge the issue but point to the difficulties in solving it. An NHAI official confirmed that the old bus stop was removed years ago specifically to reduce traffic congestion in the area. They are now in talks with the Madurai Corporation regarding potential solutions.
A TNSTC official stated that while drivers have been instructed not to stop at the junction, they have little choice when faced with large crowds of waiting passengers. As a partial measure, the corporation is ensuring that city buses also halt at the official PP Chavadi bus stop to encourage a shift. However, many buses reportedly skip PP Chavadi and stop only at the crowded junction.
V P Manigandan, a social activist, proposed stricter measures. He suggested that the solution lies in imposing fines on buses that stop at the junction and clearing auto-rickshaws from the area to improve traffic flow. His call to action underscores the need for coordinated enforcement to break the current deadlock and restore order to Kalavasal Junction.
