In a decisive move to tackle persistent gridlock, the Trichy district administration has imposed a ban on the entry of heavy vehicles into the busy Palpannai junction during daytime hours. The new restriction, which comes into effect from January 1, prohibits such vehicles from entering the area between 7 am and 9 pm.
Revised Traffic Plan for Buses and Heavy Vehicles
District Collector V Saravanan announced the stricter enforcement of curbs, acknowledging that while restrictions on heavy vehicles in the city's core areas between 5 am and 9 pm already existed, poor enforcement had allowed trucks to ply throughout the day. To further decongest the Palpannai and TVS tollgate areas, a significant rerouting plan has been mandated.
All non-stop and SETC buses, including point-to-point TNSTC services arriving from Thanjavur and the delta districts, have now been directed to use the Trichy semi-ring road. Their new route will be via Thuvakudi–Mathur–Panjapur to reach the integrated bus terminus at Panjapur. Specifically, non-stop buses from Thanjavur will bypass the G Corner, TVS tollgate, and Mannarpuram junctions.
However, regular TNSTC services and private city buses will continue to pass through Palpannai. As the toll plaza on the semi-ring road is not yet operational, officials stated that heavy vehicles would be directed to use the bypass road specifically during peak traffic hours.
Targeting a Major Congestion Hotspot
The Palpannai junction, situated at the critical crossing of the Trichy–Chennai and Trichy–Thanjavur national highways, has long been identified as a major bottleneck. The area has been witnessing frequent and severe traffic snarls, with some jams lasting over 30 minutes, causing daily inconvenience to commuters.
Collector Saravanan expressed confidence in the new measures, projecting that vehicular movement at Palpannai is expected to reduce by at least 20%. To ensure the plan's effectiveness and make necessary adjustments, a sub-committee has been formed. This committee comprises officials from the revenue, transport, and city and rural police departments, who will monitor the impact and submit periodic reports.
Future Steps and Community Response
Welcoming the administration's initiative, district road safety council member P Aiyarappan emphasized that consistent and effective enforcement would be the key to its success. The collector also outlined future plans to aid traffic flow, announcing that encroachments along East Boulevard Road and Thanjavur Main Road near Gandhi Market would be removed before Pongal 2026. This action aims to further ease congestion and streamline city bus operations.
The combined strategy of immediate restrictions on heavy vehicles, rerouting of inter-district buses, and planned removal of encroachments represents a multi-pronged approach by the Trichy administration to address the chronic traffic woes at one of the city's most problematic junctions.
