Source : The Hindu Date : 25.06.2009
New traffic regulation
Special Correspondent
| In and around Periyar bus stand; drivers welcome move |
— Photo: K. Ganesan. 
SPOT STUDY: K. Nandabalan, Commissioner of Police, inspecting new traffic arrangements at Periyar bus stand in the city.
MADURAI: In a bid to decongest traffic in and around Periyar the bus stand and the shopping complex area, the police have introduced a few changes in the arrival and departure of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation- city buses.
With an ever-increasing vehicle population, the police are compelled to examine modalities to accommodate them on the roads in a sustained manner.
Commissioner of Police K. Nandabalan who inspected the new arrangements at the Periyar bus stand and shopping complex on Monday said that the traffic pattern would be studied and alterations effected, if required.
According to police officers, instead of ‘over utilising’ the shopping complex bus stand, the arrival/departure of city buses had been compartmentalised.
In the new arrangement, city buses bound for Kariapatti shall use the TTC bus stand instead of shopping complex. This would not only save diesel consumption for the TNSTC buses but also provide the much needed space in the shopping complex. Similarly, buses towards Simakkal and Anna Bus stand can enter Periyar bus stand. Buses bound for Tirupparankundram and South Gate areas can take the No 4 bus route (Hayath Khan Road).
A senior TNSTC official said that the new arrangement would benefit them phenomenally in fuel consumption. For instance, everyday buses (single trip) which entered and exited shopping complex would now save a distance of 0.7 km per trip. On an average, 1020 buses would now stop at the roundabout every day, which means they would save 714 km.
This accounted for 140 litres of fuel saving, he added.
Some of the TNSTC drivers welcomed the new arrangement. TNSTC trade union functionaries said that the authorities concerned should evict unauthorised vendors and travel agents inside the shopping complex.
Many shoppers welcomed the move as the congestion experienced near the Netaji Road junction by pedestrians due to the movement of buses would no more be there.