129 TNSTC Madurai buses damaged last 5 months reported

In the aftermath of the Paramakudi police firing, 73 buses of TNSTC Madurai and Karaikudi divisions were damaged in stone pelting while four buses of Madurai division were damaged during Thevar Jayanthi on October 30. On January 10, 52 buses of the Madurai, Tirunelveli and Karaikudi divisions were attacked after dalit leader Pasupathi Pandian's murder. This apart, several private buses were also damaged in these incidents.

Those who damage buses do not realise that the buses were in fact their own property. Very poor situation. The people who are damaging do not pay income tax, and do not realize the government and other department organization workings. This is mainly the people who are jobless and crimes or backbones of certain political parties.

In most cases, these damages are triggered by the political parties in a way - what to do when etc.,

Atlast the damage goes to the pockets of the public and common people. How pity right?
Today, if you see the rate/price hike for the bus rides...you can imagine, from where part of the the problems are coming...

New Buses for Madurai Public - Road Transportation

After the bad news of price hike, here is a good news for Madurai public.

The corporation has decided to replace old and redundant buses with brand new vehicles. To start with, Madurai division will get 250 new buses to replace old vehicles. The 250 buses are part of the bouquet of 3,000 new buses to be introduced across the state. Chief minister J Jayalalithaa had earlier in the week announced that the buses would be bought at a cost of Rs 434.75 crore.

Plastic Roads in Madurai, like in Chennai and then Trichy to follow

Madurai will soon follow the footsteps of Chennai in laying roads using waste plastic. The Madurai Corporation has worked out a plan to lay roads using waste plastic for a distance of 3.2 km at a projected cost of Rs.1.55 crore. The special road scheme has been forwarded to the government for sanction of financial assistance.

In Madurai, the civic body will use the technology formulated by Thiagarajar College of Engineering (TCE).

He said that the Tiruchi Corporation had also shown a keen interest in using the technology.
Work on laying ‘plastic road' would commence in the first week of January in Tiruchi.

Clear up the traffic for Southern Madurai! - Move the East Maret Street Onion Market and Simmakkal Fruits Market near Central Market Mattuthavani

It was a great move by the local government and funding from the state for Centralized Market near Mattuthavani for all the vegetables. This helps a lot and there gives a lot of breathing space for the traffic. Every day there are n number of cars, bikes, vans, buses being registered with RTO (Regional Transport Office, Madurai). Given these new vehicles, how will the Old Roads of Madurai around the temple handle? Obviously there will be traffic situation in Madurai, given the old narrow roads and too many vehicles. These roads were supposedly very broad roads in olden days, but today it is not.

Some of the bottlenecks for these traffic situations are -

1) During November to January, Ayyappa Devotees would halt in Madurai on their way to Sabarimala. Madurai Corporation has provisioned Ellis Nagar and Bye-pass road in Madurai for halting their vehicles, instead of staying inside the city. In an off-topic, Corporation does not provide sufficient facilities, while the corporation collects money for the parking. This is one of the good moves, since the traffic is reduced and parking is done little outside the temple area in the Madurai City.

2) Fruit Market in Simmakal - Pazhakkadai Mandi - Pazhakkadai Commission Agent Mandi. This produces lot of traffic clutter, since lot of lorries and load vans come and go in the Madurai City.

3) Onion Market in Keezha marret street - East Maret Street is another clutter, where lot of lorries and load vans block the ongoing traffic.

4) In night, there are too many lorries coming and going in the city. If these two markets also moves to the Central Market in Mattuthavani, that would be a blessing for Madurai traffic and around 70% of the traffic would be reduced.

5) Also, the parking facility is not properly provided for some of the tourist spots in Madurai like Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal. Hence, there is lot of traffic congestion.

If some improvements are undertaken, that would be great for Madurai City Traffic!!

Coimbatore to Madurai Nagercoil transporation connection not enough

As thousands of people from southern Tamil Nadu are working in textile and other industrial segments of Coimbatore, the city is badly in need of more trains and buses to Madurai, Nagercoil and other southern cities.

All the 50 government buses and 20 omni buses to the southern cities are also running beyond their capacity.

In case of train connection from Coimbatore to Madurai, Link Express from Coimbatore to Tuticorin (recently started), Coimbatore-Nagercoil Express, Passenger train from Coimbatore only and that does not seem to be enough.

The number of people travelling back and forth to Coimbatore and Southern districts is more than the capacity of the trains and buses connecting it.

Hence, there is a heavy need for more trains and buses between this route - Coimbatore to Southern Districts. In fact, that applies to Chennai to Southern Districts as well. Having Coimbatore and Chennai as work and business hubs of Tamil Nadu, this has happenned.

As we progress on improving the transportation to these two cities from Southern Districts, it would be great if we could improve business in Madurai and Southern Districts! How about that?!

KPN bus transportation accident learnings Coimbatore Vellore Trichy Chennai

Recently we all heard the horror incident of KPN bus accident from Chennai to Coimbatore.

As a frequent bus traveler in Tamil Nadu, I kind of guess and realize few things which can be improved and thought through. Please consider, whoever is responsible or whoever can make some changes to the system -

1) Preferably, the passengers has to choose Train, instead of bus. Bus/Road transportation is more riskier than rail transportation. That does not mean train transportation does not have risks. Well, in these days, there is no availability in trains and whenever we book for it, it is in waiting list.

2) The drive locks up from his cabin and nobody can get out without his consent or without him opening the door from his side. Why should we be locked up as passengers? Passengers should have ability to get out or contact the driver's cabin easily.

3) Emergency exit awareness is not provided to the passengers. Like flight travel, there has to be awareness to be provided by the hosts to the passengers. People do not even know how to get out. What is the procedure to get out.

4) Moreoever, more emergency exits are needed. One in the back, one in the left side and one in the right side. There is a high possibility that people could have escaped if more emergency exits were there.

5) Another last thing is - SPEED. Control the speed with some kind of devices. What are the highway patrols doing, when somebody is speeding. I have never known in Tamil Nadu that somebody was stopped for speeding in highways. In foreign countries I have seen. It is high time we should have some kind of facility for controlling the speed like foreign countries - laser gun for seeing the speed to be used by police OR machines in the bus for controlling the speed.

Here are things I could think of to avoid these kind of accidents.

Omni Bus Operators hike the bus fare - Madurai to Chennai

From Madurai to Chennai, the fare for a non-air conditioned bus was Rs 800-900 and for a seat in an air-conditioned bus, the fare was Rs 1,300 and even more, many passengers at Maatuthavani integrated bus stand and at Periyar bus stand said here on Sunday night.

Office-bearers of trade unions attached to the Corporations said that like in Kerala, the Tamil Nadu government should fix the fare for omnibus operators. Similarly, enforcement on the part of Transport Department should be conducted in a stringent manner as many buses operated without even the contract carriage permit.

When the State run SETC buses charged Rs 240 per ticket (ultra deluxe) and Rs 385 for air-conditioned bus, the government should think on similar rates for omnibus as well, they added.

This always happens in festival seasons, vacation seasons, muhoortha days etc., This is a great trouble for all the passengers.

Please do the needful for controlling the fare by private bus operators and help the passengers who cannot afford to give unbelievable fares.

This article is sent to Madurai Collector, Commissioner and officials.

TNSTC and SETC buses needs repair and motels looting passengers

TNSTC and SETC buses are run by the government bodies for passengers going in and around Madurai to Chennai and vice versa and many other bus routes. Let us just talk about the buses shunting between Madurai and Chennai.

I have used TNSTC buses for quite sometime and have gone back and forth quite frequently. TNSTC buses stop in specific spots for eating in between the travel. Near Thuvarankuruchi is one of the places and another one near Villupuram.

The way the shop keepers treat the passengers is totally un-customer friendly. The quality of food is totally poor and the price is very high for that food they provide. The restaurant owners consider that these passengers do not have any other go for to eat in these places. Some the urinals charge Rs.3 and also the restrooms are pretty nasty. These motel owners have tie up with the TNSTC heads or some other bodies similar to that and have the buses keep coming to these motels all the time. Will there be better places created or will government regulate on the quality and price control of these motel items. The prices are almost 50% hiked. A snack item worth Rs.12 costs Rs.25. Dosa item worth Rs.20 costs Rs.40 or Rs.50 for the poor quality.

Any way, if appropriate government official take action against it will help.

In addition to this, TNSTC buses are in poor condition. It is been three times I was changed to a different bus or dropped at Perungulathur itself instead of Koyambedu due to BUS BREAK DOWN. Last week I came by "Thenpaandi saaral", which comes from Chennai to Sivakasi and while I get down in Madurai. A/C was completely not working and the driver's do not know what to do. At least I was asking for opening the door, but driver was not accepting that. Rs.385 for an A/C bus which does not have the A/C working. I could have gone in a non-ac bus cheaper. There is no real customer service among staff. The staff is always frustrated and they don't help very well. The staff do not provide bedsheets if it is very cold. Even if they provide the bedsheets are dirty and smelling. Please see the other government buses like Andhra or Karnataka. They even give water bottles and take good care for the passengers etc.,

It is atleast expected that these buses are in good condition at least.

If government looks into these issues and takes care of appropriate action it will be helpful.

This article is submitted to Collector and Commissioner of Madurai.

Traders welcome Madurai road improvement plan

The Tamil Nadu Foodgrains Merchants Association (TFMA) has welcomed the announcement of the comprehensive road improvement plan by the Madurai Corporation. On December 31, the Mayor of Madurai Corporation, Ms Thenmozhi Gopinathan, and the Commissioner of Madurai Corporation, Mr S. Sebastian, announced in a press meet that a comprehensive mobility plan at a cost of Rs 1,640 crore to improve the road facility with two stretches of elevated corridor and five new bridges on congested junctions has been proposed. Mr S.V.S.S. Velshankar, Secretary, TFMA, in a release, while welcoming the announcement, urged that the facilities should be completed at the earliest opportunity.

Madhucon Projects bags project from NHAI for Trichy- Thanjavur Expressways and Madurai- Tuticorin Expressways

Madhucon Projects has received a letter of award from National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) worth Rs. 73.98 crore for 4-laning of Barsasat- Krishnagar section of NH 34 from Km 31 to Km 115 in the State of West Bengal under National Highway development programme (NHDP-III) on design, build, finance, operate and transfer basis (DBFOT) on annuity basis. The concession period is 17 years including construction period of 910 days.

The company is having 6 BOT toll and annuity projects under its BOT portfolio. The two toll road projects namely Madhucon Agra- Jaipur Expressways and TN (DK) Expressways are operational and two BOT toll road projects namely Trichy- Thanjavur Expressways and Madurai- Tuticorin Expressways are expected to commence toll before the end of February 2011.

The company made this announcement during the trading hours today, 23 February 2011.

Need a ban on Horns in Traffic in Madurai

As commissioner has come up rule for removal of posters without permission, we suggest to come up with a ban on Horns in Traffic in Madurai.

Atleast, if horns are necessary, it would be better if some kind of regulation on the type of horn used. If the horn can be like a soft horn, it will be good everyone.

These days the power of the horn is so high that I sometimes (sorry, most of the times) feel that my ear is gone.

Not only the power and high pitch of the horn, the usage of the horn is so high that people use the horn in their vehicles unnecessarily.

In foreign countries, they don't use horn at all! They only use for emergency!

Will this change happen?! Will we have a less (noise) polluted Madurai soon?!

Night time visit to Madurai?

Have you ever visited Madurai in Night?

Let me give some tips via Road transport!

If you are coming from North of Madurai, you will reach Mattuthavani Integrated bus stand in Madurai. If so, you won't have buses to Periyar Bus stand (near to Madurai Railway station) directly in the night time before 4:45 AM.

If you want to reach Madurai Railway station (this is in night before 4:45 AM), you take buses to Aarappalayam Bus stand Madurai. Once you reach Aarappalayam, you will have frequent buses to Periyar Bus stand, Thirumangalam, Palanganatham and Thirunagar. You can take these buses and go to southern parts of Madurai and via Madurai Railway station.

Do not take Autos at this time and there will be lot of people keep on offering for Auto rides. I don't really trust these people at this time! It is up to you and your risk. Day time Auto is fine, but not at the night times.

If you want to wait till 5 AM in the morning in Maattuthavani bus stand, then fine - you will have buses to all southern parts of Madurai.

By the way, there is a new bus stop made inside Railway station campus for all the bus riders.

If you are a tourist and you need a friendly question to be answered, please feel free to send us your questions if any. We will be glad to assist you via email as well-wishers of Madurai!

Rain in Madurai troubles pedestrians!

I was in Madurai last weekend. Can't Madurai stand for one rain?

Are the roads built using plain sand? There is no solidarity in the roads built?

(Almost) all the roads were damaged due to rain? We are only talking about Rain, correct? We are not talking about Earthquake here!!!

People are having high time inconvenience. Pedestrians especially had lot of troubles. People travelling in cars and bikes think pedestrians are low people and they go in so much speed that the car people splash the muddy water on the pedestrians! Can't you be considerate, "Mr.Human being using cars"?!

I am referring to the belt of Alagappan Nagar, Palanganatham junction, bypass road near PRC, Periyar Bus stand etc., This is completely ridiculous to have damaged roads!