Following the opening of the Integrated Bus Terminus (IBT) at Panjapur, traffic congestion on the overbridge near the Railway Junction, particularly at Central Bus Stand and Mannarpuram ends, has worsened, raising safety concerns among road users.

The closure of the old Railway Junction overbridge for the construction of a new structure has further compounded the issue, forcing vehicles to reroute via the new bridge. As a result, what was previously a manageable traffic flow has now turned chaotic, especially during peak hours, with frequent gridlocks becoming the norm.

With several city and intercity buses now rerouted through the bridge to reach the IBT, the volume of vehicular traffic has seen a sharp increase. Commuters are bearing the brunt of the delays, with many voicing frustration over the lack of effective traffic management.

“All city buses are now rerouting through the bridge to reach the bus terminus. This has led to heavy vehicular lineups on the entire stretch of the road, especially during peak hours. Strict action should be taken against over-speeding buses and other traffic violations,” said Thillainayagam, a road user.

Compounding the problem, rampant one-way violations by two-wheeler riders and light vehicles have made the situation even more perilous. Particularly at the Chennai arm and Crawford arm, vehicles are often seen defying traffic norms by turning abruptly before barricades, a practice that endangers oncoming vehicles.

“Vehicular movement must be strictly regulated on the bridge and near the Mannarpuram junction. Only strict penalisation can stop violators from repeating the offence. Authorities should also expedite the construction of the new overbridge and illuminate the Tiruchi–Madurai highway stretch between Mannarpuram and the terminus to prevent accidents,” said P. Ayyarappan, a road safety activist.

When contacted, a senior traffic official said that police personnel had been deployed near the roundabout on the bridge, Crawford arm, and Mannarpuram end to check violations. Efforts would be made to regulate traffic by deploying police personnel at the violation-prone spots.