Confusion and chaos in traffic arrangements caused by TVK founder Vijay’s rally in Tiruchi and Ariyalur on Saturday has raised questions on permission to the popular leaders in thickly populated and commercial areas.
The organisers of the TVK meet in Tiruchi had originally sought permission at Mela Chinthamani near Chathiram Bus Stand. Citing that it was not a notified spot for public meeting, the Tiruchi police asked them to come up with an alternative spot. The police gave conditional permission to Vijay’s meet at Marakkadai. It has been a popular venue for public meetings for several decades, including the days of former Chief Ministers K. Kamaraj, C.N. Annadurai, and M.G. Ramachandran. Several meetings were held at Marakkadai, which is surrounded by a number of wholesale and retail trade houses and the Gandhi Market, featuring former Chief Ministers M. Karunandhi and Jayalalithaa as well. Most of the meetings were held after 6 p.m. By the time the meetings start, most of the commercial activities would come to a close for the day.
Moreover, the venue was not that busy in those days unlike now. Thousands of vehicles including buses, cars, two-wheelers, and others pass through the Marakkadai junction to reach Gandhi Market and the Old Madurai Road. If traffic gets stuck even for five minutes, it will have a cascading effect in the city. But there is no viable alternative to divert the traffic if the approach roads to Marakkadai are closed.
