Many city residents would be wondering why the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) that has been conducting soil tests for four-laning of Madurai-Natham is drilling roads on Gokhale Road, Alagarkoil Road and Melur Road.

The proposed highway, with a 7.3-km elevated stretch, on New Natham Road, will have three flyovers – three arms of the elevated highway will stretch into the city side - for smooth traffic flow on three important junctions.

The widened highway, which starts from IOC junction near Vishal de Mall, will have the three arms on Gokhale Road, Alagarkoil Road and Melur Road. “The three arms will follow the existing traffic pattern of one-way and two-way vehicle movement. Through Gokhale Road vehicles will climb up the elevated highway and the other two arms on Alagarkoil Road and Melur Road will serve vehicles coming into the city from the Natham side,” NHAI Madurai Project Director V. Saravanan said.

Abruptly terminating the elevated highway on New Natham Road near Dean’s Quarters will add to traffic congestion at the cluster of intersections - IOC junction, Ambedkar statue junction and Periyar statue junction. These are important intersections serving almost the entire traffic of the northern parts of the city and thickly-populated suburbs.

Presently there are multiple traffic conflicts at these junctions. IOC junction itself has two. “Firstly, traffic from Gokhale Road cuts through traffic flow from Race Course Road (from Tallakulam police station side) near P.T. Palanivel Rajan (PTR) statue junction. Secondly, those vehicles proceeding towards Alagarkoil Road (K. Pudur side) have to cut through those coming from New Natham Road,” Mr. Saravanan said.

The next two conflicts are at Alagarkoil Road-Race Course Road junction (MGR Sports Stadium Road) and also near Ambedkar Statue, where they face vehicles coming from Gokahle Road.

“If the highway is allowed to end at IOC junction, it amounts to shifting of road conflicts at various junctions on New Natham Road at IOC junction. Hence, we have proposed to construct the three arms to ease traffic on these junctions and also ensure safety,” he said.

The arm on Gokhale Road would run for about 270 metres, while the one on Alagarkoil Road will be 300-metres-long. The third arm that would take diversion from the one on Alagarkoil Road near Madurai Kamaraj University college building would run for another 200 metres up to the Corporation office gate on Melur Road, also known as Dr. Ambedkar Road.

On Gokhale Road, the ramp will come up on the left side. The minimum clearance of 5.5 metres will be ensured at IOC junction itself for free flow of vehicles on the service road from Gokhale Road towards Alagarkoil Road and Melur Road. The arm on Alagarkoil Road and Melur Road will run on the middle section of the roads with service roads on both sides.

Only PTR statue required to be relocated on the same junction while the other two statues would not be disturbed.

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