Madurai District Administration began demolishing the Periyar Thorana Vaayil entrance arch in K.K. Nagar at about 12:30 a.m. on July 19, following Madras High Court directions. Police, ambulance and medical staff, Fire and Rescue Services personnel and other officials were deployed; the nearby stretch was cordoned off and closed to traffic for safety.

The court had directed Madurai Corporation and other authorities to remove the K.K. Nagar arch and other arches hindering traffic. The public interest litigation also sought removal of arches near MGR Bus Stand in Mattuthavani, on the Therkuvasal–Airport road near Villapuram, and on Theni Road near Virattipathu. The petition said traffic had increased manifold over 15 years as markets, bus stands, industrial estates and the High Court became operational. It argued the arches occupied substantial road space, created bottlenecks and, along with unauthorised parking, worsened congestion and road-safety risks.

In February 2025, an earthmover operator was killed when part of the Nakkeerar Thorana Vaayil arch near MGR Bus Stand collapsed onto the vehicle during demolition.

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court directed Madurai Corporation and other authorities to remove the K.K. Nagar entrance arch and other arches hindering traffic within three months. The order followed a 2019 petition by M. Saravanan concerning arches near MGR bus stand in Mattuthavani, on the Therkuvasal–Airport road near Villapuram, and on Theni road near Virattipathu.

The State told the court that the Mattuthavani arch had been removed and a tender floated for the K.K. Nagar arch, which would be removed after the elections. In September 2024, the court had ordered the removal within six months of Nakkeerar Thorana Vaayil at Mattuthavani and Periyar Thorana Vaayil at K.K. Nagar, while allowing authorities to install bigger arches.

In February 2025, an earthmover operator was killed when part of the Mattuthavani arch fell during demolition. Police booked the contractor and Corporation officials for negligence.

The Madras High Court directed Madurai Corporation to immediately shut commercial activities entrusted to private operators in 14 buildings on the banks of Vandiyur lake in Madurai. A division bench of Justices R Suresh Kumar and P Vadamalai was hearing a public interest litigation filed by N Manikandan. He sought closure of food stalls, a ban on visitors bringing plastic into Vandiyur park in KK Nagar, a halt to amusement equipment such as a giant wheel, and an end to entry fees. The court observed that permitted commercial activities were causing extensive littering, with plastics used and discarded indiscriminately.