Encroachment on pedestrian platforms, carriage way creates chaos on South Masi Street

Madurai Deepavali shopping has picked up in the last 10 days and vehicular traffic on the Masi Stree

Deepavali shopping has picked up in the last 10 days and vehicular traffic on the Masi Streets which is dotted by textile shops last weekend turned chaotic.

The sudden increase in numbers of shoppers, men, women and children, from far and near rushed towards the Masi Streets along with the volume of vehicles going up led to the congestion on South Masi Street near Vilakkuthoon Junction.

Despite following one-way traffic, the congestion for nearly 200 metres led to piling up of vehicles on the South Veli Street, Mahal Road and East Masi Street.

Though number of traffic police personnel were deployed in all vantage points, controlling the traffic on Saturday and Sunday miserably failed.

A traffic policeman complained that parking of two-wheelers on the South Masi Street between the Vilakkuthoon Junction and Manjanakara Street was the main cause for the traffic disorder.

"This stretch of road for a little more than 100 feet is the narrowest part of South Masi Street. And with few popular textile shops located on this stretch, all hawkers throng this spot and encroach upon the pathway and carriage way," he added.

Not only the hawkers, but also some of the shopkeepers were spreading out all types of garments on both the platforms.