Trichy: During peak hours, it takes more than five minutes to cross the Palpannai junction while coming from Thiruverumbur and the congestion runs for more than a kilometre. As the junction has no dedicated free-left lane for vehicles approaching Trichy from Thanjavur, during peak hours vehicles pile up at all exit points at the junction. A proposal to widen a portion of the junction for a dedicated free-left lane has been in limbo for while too.Palpannai junction is one of the major entry points for commuters coming from delta districts and Chennai to reach the city and Trichy Airport. The junction intersects Chennai-Trichy NH-38 and Thanjavur-Trichy NH-83. As the NH-83 stretch connecting Thiruverumbur and Thuvakudi with Palpannai junction is too narrow, vehicles heading to Gandhi market and G Corner get clogged at the junction.Though NHAI and district administration had in August 2018 identified the narrow stretch as the cause for congestion, efforts were not taken to widen the stretch despite having adequate space. A proposal to widen the corner portion of NH-83 near Palpannai junction was submitted last year but has been facing a roadblock owing to delay in relocating an electricity pole and a drainage carrier.“We have written to the Union ministry of road transport to direct NHAI on streamlining the Palpannai roundabout. Frequent traffic snarls have residents shrugged in commuting past the junction,” said M Sekaran, member, road safety council.Lack of adequate space on the left side on the Thanjavur-Trichy stretch of Palpannai junction is also delaying the commissioning of traffic signals as traffic police are manually regulating the stretch currently.NHAI sources said that they are willing to widen the narrow stretch but until the existing electricity pole is not shifted the junction cannot be widened. “The EB pole, if shifted, might be moved nearer to a private property, fanning safety concerns. We are coordinating with TNEB and district administration. Once the electricity pole and drainage are moved, space for a free-left lane at the junction can be established,” an official source with NHAI said.

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