Madurai_16, originally uploaded by Photolocale.

But then auto rickshaws by Piaggio catched up, it changed the equation. It is actually a 3 seater auto but wider than the usual auto. It doubled up as ‘share‘ auto – not quite legally though.

With their bigger size, auto drivers now squeeze 8 – 10 people in this 3 seater auto with a wooden plank serving as additional row of seats. And it runs like a monster with it’s tail on fire!

Those heavy looking beast lurks and moves fast, and true to auto driving rules, the drivers try to sneak into spaces where none exist. With a high pitch diesel motor, such a rash driving monster is really a menace to pedestrians and two wheeler riders. Accidents involving these monsters were becoming regular. Seems they will replace sand laden lorries as road demons.

They make life difficult for commuters hopping into a city bus. They always squeeze between the bus and bus stop. No wonder we regularly see reader letters in newspapers clamouring for a ban of these ‘share’ autos.

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Since the 4-track road & ring road entirely bye-passes Madurai, this bye-pass road is now within city. A new name is due for this only genuine wide road in Madurai.

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3. Toll roads are expensive around Madurai

But all these improvements come with a price, that place regular travellers in a fix. If you have to commute about 30 kms on these 4-track daily on a car, you have to pay about Rs.75 per day for using the road. Adding to the rising fuel expenses, this adds a sizable Rs.2,000 burden per month.

If you visit nearby Melur (30kms) on Madurai – Trichy road in a car, you need to pay Rs.50 one way (or Rs.75 for two way – if returned same day). Car travel from Madurai to Chennai cost around Rs.235 one way on toll fee. About the same as a reserved second class sleeper ticket on train.

Toll charges seems to be costliest between Madurai and Trichy (120 kms) with Rs.95 one way (or Rs.145 for two way). Needless to say, it has put a positive effect of car owners who travel single. They either opt for other modes (Rs.40 is the fare on bus), or go for car pool whenever possible. NHAI can claim they are forcing car owners go green!

The rates were higher for heavy vehicles. Needless to say lorry owners are not taking it lightly. A return trip between Tuticorin and Bangalore is said to be costing Rs.3,500 on toll alone. They have announced indefinite strike from August 2, 2010. They are readily supported by private bus & van operators.

Hope some respite will be available from their protest.

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Though it’s not common, Horse carriages are still plying in Madurai. A nice way to entertain the kids and re-live the rustic charm of older days when you visit Madurai.

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With such a dubious distinction, film going in Madurai used to be a rough experience. Ticket booths used to be heavily barricaded & private guards stand around ticket booth to ward off storming youths. These youths were storming ticket booths not to capture it, but only to buy tickets!!

Well, those days are gone! Theatres now wear a desolate look, except for a few inaugural shows of established stars. Even acclaimed films do not draw a full house after first week. So theatre owners have the option of either converting the vital land for better usage .. or .. pamper the visitors with better experience.

Second rung theatres like Jeyaraj (near LadyDoak College) & Pandian (near Vilangudi) were converted into an Apartment-cum-Shopping complex.

Some other theatres were opting to pamper the visitors. Ganesh & Sundaram (kk nagar) theatres were taken over by Reliance’s Big cinemas, and these were now on par with other Big cinema theatres all over the country. The famed Regal theatre was revamped & now draw crowds mainly due to the facilities there.

An individual theatre on the outskirts – the Mani Impala (near Tirunagar) is now converted into a multiplex of 3 theatres and said to be on par with Big cinema group or Satyam multiplex.

Of the previous multiple theatres (not multiplexes), the Priya theatre complex seem to have the potential of becoming a multiplex, but it shows no sign of improvement.

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The immediate provocation seems to be that recent road-accident deaths were mostly two-wheelers riders with head injuries. Traffic police have started imposing fines for riders without helmets at various points. But riders are not yet returning to helmet usage in large numbers. Earlier it will be 1 in 100, now it seems to be about 10 riders out of 100 use helmets.

Police have also took up a persuasive way from Independence day. They are now visiting schools to ask kids to remind their parents, elder brothers & sisters to wear helmets while riding two-wheelers. After all marketers are targeting kids to persuade their parents into buying consumer durables.

With the rains, the city roads were full of sand dust, which alone could force people to wear full mask helmets. With improved roads, and higher capacity bikes, the average speeds have actually increased in arterial roads (except in peak hours). But Maduraiites are still very defiant in using helmets, why?

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Now, if this sound familiar, you might know or heard about Akshaya Trust of Madurai. Ever since the life of a 5-star hotel cook who’s visit to home town (Madurai) evoked an absolute turnaround on his career, many mentally unstable roadside souls were fed daily. Mr. Krishnan is taking care & feeding them daily for the past 6-7 years without fail.

The Maruti Omni is one belonged to Akshaya Trust donated by well-wishers. Curious about name calling, I approached the car and asked about it. The young man who helps Krishnan in this routine said ‘we named him!’.

Krishnan & his Akshaya Trust got coverage in Media. Yet not many seem to know. You can read a media report here. And also at their own website www.akshayatrust.org

A short news feature available at YouTube on Akshaya Trust

And a more detailed coverage by this blogger Marcie who ran a marathon to raise funds for Akshaya Trust.

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We expect to eat Madurai mann for the next 3-4 days as the roads dry up.

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For other theatres like Priya Complex, Ambika – Mookambika and a few others, there is limata.com. The site doesn’t look confident inspiring. But nevertheless they do offer a mobile number as an alternative to book & get home delivery. Please comment below if you already booked through these sites. It would help others in making their decision.

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Now to an interesting question. Which one will be widest & most happening road in Madurai?

The wider roads in Madurai are at best four-laners, usually two lanes with a median at the centre. So don’t be disappointed.

The Alagarkovil Road at Goripalayam used to be an important & wide-looking stretch in 80s, but the 80 feet road from KK nagar to Kuruvikaaran Saalai was more wider & comfortable.

It showed signs of developing into a bustling shopping district, but it’s parallel road on Anna Nagar took over.

The Anna nagar main road doesn’t have much platform space, but is four-track. It now has the vibrance of a shopping area, but lack of parking space hinders it to realize its full potential.

All these roads were on the northern side of River Vaigai. On the south there used to be no wide roads to speak off. There is a small stretch between Teppakulam and Nirmala School which can look wide, but it isn’t a happening stretch.

Now, to boast a most happening road, the southern side takes over. The Bye-pass road, with service roads on either side, ample shoulders after wide canals & avenue trees made it a natural choice for shoppers. Sure enough, shops have flocked for this road and is fast becoming an elite shopping & happening place.

Naidu hall, World of Titan, Raymonds, Vimal, Megamart, Sony World, Panasonic Brand shop, Basics and local big shopping names such as Milan, Anandha & Anandha, Madura Shoes… bye-pass road surely overtook all other roads in the city.

The central part of the road needs to be widened. Work on this is moving on snail’s pace. Once the new NH 4-track north-south Golden Corridor bye-pass is completed (hoping for March 2008), much of the container lorry traffic will be reduced, leaving the current bye-pass road to develop into a full shopping area.

It might need to be renamed by then. Guess it will be named after Gandhi (MG Road, reminding bangaluru!) or Anna (we have many identical named areas as in chennai, but we dont have anna salai!).

So Madurai’s most happening & wide road is …. the Bye-pass road (sigh, strange name!)

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