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!

Chennai to Madurai - Railways, Road Transport

Given the situation that more and more people from South are moving to North Tamil Nadu, other states and other countries for work and for personal reasons, there is lesser skilled labours population in Southern districts of Tamil Nadu. That is totally a different problem altogether, in the interests of this article.

If the people travelling from Chennai to Madurai and other southern districts are more, eventually there is a great demand for transport.

Say for example - for a trip to home town in Diwali season or long weekends, it becomes very very tough for all the passengers. We don't even get tickets and it is all Waiting List. Within one day, tickets are sold for Diwali season. Long queues in railway bookings. This is the situation in Railways. Why don't Railways Ministry increase the trains? I know there are special trains, but even special trains queue was booked just within 1 day.

Same situation is with Bus. In Road transport, what happens is people sell tickets for higher rates and really unreasonable rates, since there is lot of demand.

We would request more regulation from Government in all these (agents increasing ticket rates) and also increase the number of transport mechanisms, which will be useful for the general public!!

Basically - Improve Transport in and around Madurai and to/from North, since Madurai is connecting all the places around for southern districts and northern districts.

Madurai traffic police gets a/c kiosks

First time in the country madurai traffic police gets a/c kiosks.

There is an anonymous NGO providing this facility to only Madurai traffic police.
Lucky Madurai traffic police!!!!!

Due to overheat of Madurai with almost 42 degrees celcius, there is no safe and healthy work environment for Madurai traffic police.
Hence this gift for them. Moreover, this kiosk is wheeled so it can be moved to a different place based on the traffic and the tragfic can be controlled while sitting inside this kiosk.

Good for madurai traffic police. We appreciate the NGO who donated this, but it would be ideal if this comes through state budget.

Madurai Tirunagar to Madurai Airport Road Infrastructure Approved

It is a great news about Madurai infrastructure update.

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Since there is IT park coming up in Vadapazhanji area in Madurai, it was evaluated that there is a possibility of lot of traffic from Tirunagar area and traffic from Theni area in future. If anybody has to go to Madurai Airport from Theni or Thirunagar area in Madurai, they have to go a long way via Palgalai nagar, Vadapazhanji, Thirunagar, Kappalur, Ring road to reach Madurai Airport. This leads too much time and lot of petrol wastage.

Hence, there was a proposal for a road from Tirunagar to Madurai Airport and it is approved by Tamil Nadu State Transport.

Great! It is an infrastructure improvement in Madurai and at the same time Madurai Real Estate will have great improvement in that area.

Things have changed in terms of Madurai Transport

When I used to grow up in Madurai, there were buses for common folks and bicycle for other short distance trips. There were very few motorbikes and few cars.

Now, if we see everyone has ability to purchase motorbikes at least and people go around in their bikes. It has become too crowded, without much infrastructure improvement amidst people living inside growing too fast with their possessions.

Also given that the world's cheapest car Tata Nano is out released, there is lot of cars around as well.

It would be ideal to have improvement in the roads and bridges, which will really help in all the transport and for life and/or business of people in Madurai.

Not forgetting autos, share autos, taxis, lorries, carts etc.,

Government has to identify ways of improving business by facilitating businesses with various easy transports and transport infrastructures. Today, it is a nightmare for business folks, if they want to go from south madurai to north madurai, for business sake.

Madurai Bus Boarding - Madurai People

If I have to board a bus in Madurai, Chennai or anywhere in India - I will have to be a fit person. There will be bunch of people standing in the bus stop waiting for the bus. It is survival of the fittest. If you have to get on to the bus, and when the bus comes to the stop, the bus will be already loaded with full of people.

People hanging in the foot board of the bus. When the bus comes to the bus stop, the bus stops and the foot boarders get down for you and others waiting in the bus stop to get in. It is interesting, we don't know where is the space for people to get in. People get squeezed in inside the bus.

Foot-boarders help people to get in, but at the same time - you will have to be fit to get into the bus. If you are not capable you will not be able to get in.

Anyway, the point I was getting to is - in foreign countries, people stand in queue to get into bus. People don't even touch each other before they get in. I would not agree if you tell me about population. Population is less in other countries, but even in popular populous cities like New york, this is still the case - No one touches each other. People in NY wait in lines before they get into train or bus.

Overall, at one point I am hoping people in Madurai and other cities in India will wait for turns.

Madurai Railway Division shows huge earnings and profit for 2008-2009

 The Madurai Railway division recorded a total earning of Rs.412 crore in 2008-09 against last year's earnings of Rs.329 crore, Divisional Railway Manager Anil Singhal said. Isn't it great?

Madurai four way lane to Trichy - almost completed

The four-lane projects on the Tiruchi-Madurai section of National Highway 45 B and the Tiruchi-Tindivanam section of NH 45 are expected to be completed before July, except for a few grade separators and bridges in the urban areas.

read more in the news

Economic conditions of Autorickshaw drivers in Madurai

This article would explain the economic conditions of Autorickshaw drivers in Madurai...

I personally know few autorickshaw drivers in Madurai. They have a unique lifestyle in Madurai. Youngsters(bachelors) among the autorickshaw drivers are usually some fan club members. However, there are married autorickshaw drivers in Madurai. Commonly, majority of these guys drink significantly(just a data point). The drivers would even have a cleaner(sometimes), for a three wheeler - who travels with the driver!

Autorickshaw drivers are the ones who drive the three wheeler motor vehicle, but there are rickshaw riders who manually pedal the rickshaw. Their situation is deteriorating day-by-day and in fact much more pathetic. Whoever were riding the manual rickshaws in past few years for their living are just trying to exist and keep it going. There are no more new manual rickshaw riders. Manual rickshaw will be gone soon, I believe.

However, autorickshaw is something which came from last generation. As it seemed to be a profitable business and employment, lot of people started to drive autorickshaws and many bought autorickshaws and provided for rent to many drivers. The driver will have to just pay a daily rent and he can use the auto as much as he want in the day.

Even though public transport is available, if we want to go to a place faster and go conveniently, we prefer autos as first thing. However, it costs money and not like a Rs.3 or so for a bus trip from palanganatham to periyar bus stand. Auto riding is costly affair definitely.

One more point is - Chennai or any major city autorickshaw drivers cheat the customers, but Madurai autorickshaw drivers do not cheat, instead they help the passengers and tourists.

Today, public transport like Bus, Mini bus, Bikes, personal cars, bicycles are available. Also, not-minding the cost of autorickshaws, people are still riding in autos. But the problem is - there is too many number of autorickshaws to serve the madurai auto users. Hence, there is not a fulfilling salary for the autorickshaw drivers.

It does not seem to be a lucrative business anymore. As on date, there is Call Taxi into Madurai transport arena. So, there is a reduction of demand of autos, from that perspective.

However, there is a concept of Share Autos, which commutes group of people from one place to another place, but this needs a permit.

All said, the overall economic conditions hit autorickshaw drivers, because autos are mainly used by middle class people and it is not lower middle class or upper middle class. It is only middle class, who use autos.

If middle class folks are in good condition, then automatically autorickshaw drivers would live well too.

This article is written upon request...

Public Transportation Improvement in Madurai

Riding the bus from Palanganatham bus stop to Periyar Bus stand is fun-filled all the time. The bus is always full and overflowing on the foot boards. If it is a bus coming from south, then it is already full. If the bus is starting from Palanganatham, then the bus is parked and stays there for people to board. As passengers board the bus and when it is time to start the bus (as per the bus timings) then the bus starts from the bus stop.

Drivers are usually well experienced, due to their longer tenure in the government transport.

It is definitely considered that the drinking and driving is crime. Madurai employees are usually very honest and the employees would not drink and drive, when on duty. However, many do smoke cigarettes, which is fine. Any passenger has the right to complain against any driver, who might be drinking and driving.

Usually most of the accidents with public transport happen, due to passenger’s mistake or due to carelessness. Even in July 2008, there was an accident reported in “The Hindu” that the passenger was killed when he slipped on the first foot boards. May be door-ed buses would help, in this case. If it is door-ed there is a less chance that somebody would board on the foot-board OR somebody would get down or climb the bus while the bus is in motion.
The city buses are driven very slow inside the city and it is even usually 5-10-15-20 miles per hour – which is good.

It is a responsibility of the passengers and pedestrians to be careful and follow the traffic rules and it is just not the responsibility of public transport drivers.

In Madurai, there is a preferred seating arrangement for handicapped and challenged persons. Other than that, there is not much help for handicapped. In foreign countries and developed countries, bus kneels down for the handicapped to get in. Buses are air-conditioned due to varied climate requirements. When School buses stop and serve children, all the vehicles stop behind and in front. Will it ever happen in Madurai?

There are various issues here –
1) Poor Road Infrastructure,
2) People never take responsibility and act as good corporation citizens,
3) Poor Traffic sense among people
4) Public transportation in poor condition
5) Government Transportation is running in loss.

An average bus’s lifetime is only 6 years and/or 7 lakh miles. But, more than 60% of the public transportation vehicles have already crossed the limit, either in miles or in years. Most of them are more than a decade old. Thanks to Right-To-Information-Act of 2005.

Public Transportation in Madurai

Madurai is a lotus shaped city built around the Meenakshi Temple. According to the old city plan, the city streets are in concentric circles. There are narrow roads which have become incapable of handling the rising traffic in the city. However new bridges have been constructed across the river Vaigai. This is to connect north Madurai and south Madurai as well as to regularize the traffic between the two. In summers, traffic might seem a problem as it adds up to the dust and noise pollution.

In Madurai city of India, most of the people use two wheelers for transportation. The traffic inside the city is usually fine, but the heavy vehicles like trucks and tri cycles create congestion in the market place during the peak hours. However, the infrastructure and the public transportation have to be improved to a great extent, considering the future developments proposed in Madurai. The traffic policemen make use of manual light, made of plastic. During the festival time and weekends, there are some traffic related problems in the city as people are in party mood. However, as far as public transport is concerned, the city has lots of options.

Cycle Rickshaws
Cycle rickshaws are preferred mode of local transport for small distances. The charges are quite nominal too.

Buses
The other major mode of local transportation in Madurai is the city bus. People travel from one part of the city to the other by city buses only. During peak hours, like in the morning and the evening, the buses are quite crowded. Being one of the most important means of public transport, you will find a lot of rush in the buses during the festivals. The other options available are Town buses and suburban buses, connecting the nearby places. Madurai has five bus stands to cater to the needs of the people.

Auto rickshaws
Auto rickshaws are another medium through which you can travel across the city. The auto drivers do not follow the fare meters so the fare has to be negotiated before hand. The fare is paid in cash and it is a comfortable way of traveling in the city.

Taxis
Taxis are an expensive means of traveling. They are usually preferred when going for a sight seeing tour or exploring the tourist places near the Madurai. Taxis charge money on per day basis and should be hired when in a group.

By walk
Couple of decades ago, there were also people who used to and prefer to walk from place to place. The reason was that there was not much money for living itself, considering the family size.

Madurai is a kind of place where there are more public transportation users, like New York or Washington DC or San Francisco. Unlike, places like Kansas City, where people depend on their own mode of transport.

The city has a robust public transportation system, and a well-developed intra- and inter-state bus and railway systems.

Madurai Traffic sense - advice

• Avoid footboard travel.
• Ticketless Travel is punishable.
• Do not alight or board a running bus.
• Follow Queuing system while boarding a bus.
• Be Courteous to fellow passengers.
• Close following of vehicles is dangerous-Avoid it.
• Help us to serve you better.
• Travel by Government Buses. It is safe,cheap and reliable.
• Avoid overtaking on bridges and curves.
• Please Tender exact Change -It saves time.
• Buses are your Property -Protect them
• Follow lane discipline.
• Obey Traffic Signals

Challenges in Tier-II cities like Madurai Salem Coimbatore and Trichy

Here are few challenges in Tier-II cities like Madurai, Coimbatore, Trichy and Salem:

Lack of

quality commercial space,
infrastructure development,
quality hotels,
public transport in peripheral areas,
availability of recreational and
educational facilities and
rise in labour and real estate costs.

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Madurai - pre-fixed auto fare system

In an attempt to facilitate a hassle-free journey for passengers, a pre-fixed auto fare system has been introduced in the Madurai city by Minister K N Nehru on Saturday.

Madurai - a pre-fixed auto fare system introduced

Madurai Airport Design: Madurai Airport Expansion

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Sponsored by Sun City - Real Estate Agent, Madurai

The New airport in Madurai is going to be a 17,536-square metre building, to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 88 crore. It will have advanced features. The new facility has been designed to cater to 500 passengers. It has been proposed to have four aero-bridges, though initially only two will come up. Seven glass passenger lifts, five escalators and online baggage handling systems would make it a world class airport

This is designed by Mott Macdonald, the firm which also designed the New Delhi airport and they are experts in providing designs for private and public sector infrastructures worldwide.

Here are a few pictures, which I got by email.










Sourced from forwarded emails - Not Validated for truth!
Chronicles of Madurai

Official and Latest News on Madurai IT Park: Madurai Tidel Park: Madurai Airport - Foundation Stone for New Terminal Building in Madurai Airport

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Official and Latest News on Madurai IT Park: Madurai Tidel Park: Madurai Airport - Foundation Stone for New Terminal Building in Madurai Airport

Sponsored by Sun City - Real Estate Agent, Madurai

On the evening of 26th of April, Chief Minister Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi is laying a foundation for three important things -

1) Airport Expansion to International Terms - New Terminal Foundation.
2) Madurai Tidel Park in Madurai North - near Mattuthavani
3) Madurai IT Park in Madurai South

This function is scheduled to happen this weekend on 26th of April in the Madurai Airport.

We are very glad about the whole news and it is going to change everything in Madurai to a very new positive level.

Tamil Nadu (CM) Chief Minister M Karunanidhi will lay the foundation stone for a new Integrated Terminal Building at Madurai Airport on April 26.

Official sources said as part of the modernization of the Madurai Airport, the Integrated Terminal Building which could handle 500 passengers at a time would come up.

Mr Karunanidhi will also lay the foundation stones for the much awaited Madurai North Ilandhaikulam Information Technology Park and Madurai South Vadapalanji Information Technology Park at a function to be held at the Madurai Airport on the same day.

Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T R Baalu and Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel would also participate, the news sources added.

Thinking of Festival time...

When I think of Festival time in madurai..., I remember my childhood days.
When I was in my lower ages, my grandmother used to take me to all the temples she used to go. That too when Chitrai festival or Thaipoosam comes, then I will be with her only. She used to catch my hand so that I never slip away from her. :-)Now I miss her a lot and also I miss these festivals in madurai. Now as I am working in a company situated kilometers away from madurai, I am not getting time to even think about it. Even If I think of going to these festivals, I should get leave(provided there is no work left urgent in the project), mode of transport to madurai (the worst thing I like to forget), etc. things are there and immediately the plan gets cancelled. This is not my condition, but many people may have faced this.
I think, today the car festival (Therottam) would have happened. (I missed this.) :-(

Madurai BPO: Sundaram Business Services - SBS, Madurai

Sundaram Finance BPO arm to foray into Tier 2 city in Tamil Nadu SBS to open new BPO facility in Madurai Plans to hire 500 employees in Madurai in 12 months

Chennai headquartered SBS (Sundaram Business Services), the BPO arm of leading financial services company, Sundaram Finance, has announced its first expansion into a Tier 2 city with the setting up of a BPO facility in Madurai.

SBS’s new 12000 sq. ft BPO delivery facility will come up in the heart of Madurai city and will become operational by the middle of next month. As part of this expansion into Madurai, SBS plans to hire over 500 employees for its Madurai facility over the next 12 months.

On the reason for choosing Madurai for its latest BPO facility, P.S Raghavan said, “ Madurai’s infrastructure is impressive for a city of its size. The city has a robust public transportation system, and a well-developed intra and inter-state bus and railway systems. With well established and renowned educational institutions, the city offers quality talent pool for us to tap into as we expand our BPO presence.”

Sundaram Infotech Solutions & Sundaram Business Services have an expanding global presence with offices at UK, USA, Australia, Singapore, Middle East, in addition to offices at 4 centres in India.

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Madurai RTO Office Update - Regional Transport Office

RTO Madurai Update:

Considering the vehicle growth in the city a new RTO office is to be opened near mariamman teppakulam soon. The North Madurai RTO office will be shifted opposite to mattuthavani bus terminal.

The South Madurai RTO office is also proposed to be sifted to AUSTINPATTI as planned earlier.

Nearest international airport to Madurai currently: Situation would change with Madurai International Airport

Madras International Airport (Airport Code: MAA) is situated at Tirisulam, 7 Km south of Chennai. It has two terminals, Kamaraj Terminal, handles domestic flights connecting 20 destinations across the country with Chennai.

The International Terminal, named Anna Terminal, connects major destinations like London, Frankfurt, Dubai, Muscat, Bahrain, Dhahran, Jeddah, Singapore, Kuala Lampur and Sri Lanka.

Besides AIR INDIA and INDIAN AIRLINES several International carriers viz. BRITISH AIRWAYS, LUFTHANSA, SINGAPORE AIRLINES, MALAYSIAN AIRLINES, AIR LANKA, OMAN AIR, GULF AIR and SAUDIA AIRLINES are operating flights to and from Chennai.

This is the existing situation, but situation would change with an international airport in Madurai itself. Waiting for that day to come...- Madurai Machan!