COIMBATORE: Traffic congestion continues to plague the Ukkadam junction even after the operations of buses have been fully shifted from the old Ukkadam bus terminus to the new Bus Terminal-I. Town and mofussil buses that continue to stop in front of the old terminus are leading to the congestion.
The old terminus has been shut and cordoned off to facilitate renovation works under the Twin Bus Terminus redevelopment project undertaken by the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC). However, several buses still halt in front of the closed facility, particularly near the ramp of the C Subramaniam flyover that connects Ukkadam with Aathupalam.
This has led to severe bottlenecks, as buses picking up and dropping off passengers obstruct vehicles attempting to access the flyover ramp. During peak hours, long queues of vehicles can be seen stretching along the approach road, frustrating daily commuters.
"It becomes extremely difficult to cross this stretch, especially in the evenings," said B Suresh Kannan, a daily commuter. "The buses stop right in front of the ramp, and the entire traffic comes to a standstill. Even a short trip takes much longer. There needs to be strict enforcement. Otherwise, commuters like us are left to deal with the chaos."
Motorists say the issue persists despite the launch of the new terminal last month, which was inaugurated by Chief Minister MK Stalin via video conferencing. Built at a cost of Rs 13 crore, the Terminal-I facility is part of the larger Rs 21.55-crore redevelopment plan.
Officials acknowledge the issue and have assured that necessary measures will be taken soon. A CCMC official stated that the Terminal-II works are progressing rapidly, and the old terminus remains fully closed for demolition and redevelopment.
"Congestion is because some buses continue to halt near the closed facility to pick up passengers. We will conduct talks with the police department to relocate these stoppages a few metres ahead and streamline traffic movement," the official added.