Heavy transport vehicles to be diverted to Panjapur truck terminal in Tiruchi

In a move to ease traffic congestion in the city, the Tiruchi Corporation has sought the assistance of the city police to divert trucks and other heavy vehicles to the newly opened truck terminal at Panjapur on the Tiruchi-Madurai Highway.

Corporation officials said the move would significantly improve traffic flow, particularly along arterial roads that frequently witness bottlenecks because of movement of goods carriers. The civic body had requested the police to enforce diversions and coordinate with transport operators to ensure the effective use of the new terminal.

The truck terminal had been developed to decongest the city’s core areas by providing an exclusive space for parking and regulating the movement of heavy vehicles. The facility can accommodate 246 trucks, including 231 two-axle trucks, 10 three and four-axle trucks, and 5 five- and six-axle trucks at a time. The civic body will collect a user charge from the truck drivers, and all the information, including the truck number and the time of entry and exit of the vehicle, will be recorded.

The truck terminal, which is built at a cost of ₹110.97 crore on a 13.09-acre land near the Integrated Bus Terminus, houses 84-bed dormitories on both the ground and first floors and drinking water facilities for the drivers. Separate sanitation complex for men and women are provided. About 53 toilets for men, 16 for women, five for persons with disabilities, 34 urinals and 36 bathrooms are set up at the terminal. The parking lot can accommodate 46 four-wheelers and 102 two-wheelers.

In addition to the basic amenities, the terminal features commercial space in which there are about 79 shops. Rent has been fixed at ₹132 per sq ft, and the shops will be leased out through a tender process.