Madurai’s K.K. Nagar entrance arch demolished
Madurai District Administration on Saturday (July 18, 2026) night demolished the ‘Periyar Thorana Vaayil’ entrance arch in K. K. Nagar, following the directions of the
Madurai District Administration on Saturday (July 18, 2026) night demolished the ‘Periyar Thorana Vaayil’ entrance arch in K. K. Nagar, following the directions of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. Police personnel, ambulance with medical staff, Fire and Rescue Services personnel and other authorities were deployed at the entrance arch at around 12 a.m.. to carry out the demolition of the arch. The stretch near the arch was cordoned off and the area was restricted for traffic taking into account the safety of the people.
The demolition work commenced around 12.30 a.m. The entrance arch was removed based on the directions of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. The court had directed Madurai Corporation and other authorities to remove the entrance arch in K.K. Nagar and also the other arches that were causing hindrance to the free flow of traffic. The court issued the direction to the authorities while hearing the public interest litigation petition seeking a direction to the authorities to remove the entrance arches located near MGR bus stand in Mattuthavani, on Therkuvasal to Airport road near Villapuram and on Theni road near Virattipathu.
The petition said the vehicular traffic in Madurai had increased manifold over the past 15 years owing to the establishment and functioning of markets, bus stands, industrial estates, and the High Court. The concrete arch occupied substantial road space and caused traffic congestion. The arches, originally constructed to demarcate entry points to the city, have outlived their purpose and were now obsolete. Their presence, particularly at high-traffic junctions, created artificial bottlenecks, impeded vehicular movement, and violated road safety norms.
Unauthorised parking around these arches aggravated congestion, the petition said. In February 2025, an earthmover operator was killed after a major portion of the ‘Nakkeerar Thorana Vaayil’ entrance arch near MGR Bus Stand at Mattuthavani fell on the vehicle during the demolition.
The BriefWire