In a decisive move to reclaim public space, the Trichy Corporation has installed permanent road medians on a key street behind the Chathiram bus stand. This action follows the recent clearance of dozens of street vendors from the area, aiming to prevent fresh encroachments. However, the civic body's solution has ignited a debate among local residents, who fear the dividers might choke the already narrow thoroughfare instead of easing traffic flow.
A Permanent Solution to Encroachment?
The focus of the initiative is Kaliyammankoil Street in Ward 13, a vital link connecting the Teppakulam and Rockfort residential areas with the city's main bus terminus at Chathiram. Last month, the corporation successfully relocated approximately 60 street vendors who had occupied the road. These vendors were shifted to alternative spaces, including the multi-level car parking complex and a market located on Nandhikoil Street.
To ensure the vendors do not return and to regulate two-way traffic, the civic authorities, in coordination with the city traffic police, have now installed Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) dividers. The medians have been placed along Kaliyammankoil Street and a section of the adjoining Sankaran Pillai Road.
Resident Skepticism and Practical Concerns
Despite the corporation's intentions, the move has been met with scepticism from those who use the road daily. A primary concern is the width of the street. The dividers have been laid along an 180-metre stretch of the road, which is only 14 metres wide. Residents argue that this leaves insufficient space for smooth vehicular movement, especially during peak hours.
S Krishnan, a resident of Sankaran Pillai Road, pointed out a timing issue. "With schools and colleges closed, the real impact isn't visible yet. The road is too narrow for dividers," he stated, suggesting that the true test of the new infrastructure will come when regular academic sessions resume and traffic volume spikes.
Locals have also highlighted a root cause of congestion that the medians do not address: the lack of parking facilities. Many commercial establishments near the bustling Chathiram bus stand do not have dedicated parking, forcing customers and visitors to park their vehicles on the road. Residents warn that unless on-street parking is strictly enforced, the newly installed dividers could ironically aggravate traffic snarls by further reducing usable road space.
Official Response and Enforcement Plans
Acknowledging the parking concern, a Trichy Corporation official confirmed that the civic body has taken a proactive step. They have written to the city traffic police, formally requesting strict action against vehicles parked on the street along the divider-installed stretch. The success of the median project now appears to hinge on this collaborative enforcement effort.
The situation presents a classic urban governance challenge: balancing the need for orderly public spaces and pedestrian safety with the practical realities of traffic management and parking scarcity. While the corporation's action to clear encroachments and install permanent medians demonstrates a commitment to reclaiming roads, its ultimate effectiveness will be judged by the daily experience of Trichy's citizens navigating this crucial connector to the Chathiram bus stand.
