As Kerala’s capital city Thiruvananthapuram is getting ready for the famous Attukal Pongala festival on February 20, the Thiruvananthapuram City Police has put out a statement with regard to the traffic regulations that should be followed in the city from Tuesday evening onwards.
One of the convenors of the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple told TNM that lakhs of women are expected to take part in the festival on Wednesday. The festive mood has already begun in the state capital as women have already started to claim their slots on the various roads by placing their bricks on the spot.
Attukal Pongala is a 10-day festival celebrated at the Attukal temple in Thiruvananthapuram, during which, thousands of women gather on the ninth day of the festival to prepare a dish made of rice in earthen pots and offer it to the goddess of the temple.
Traffic regulations
According to the police statement, the traffic restrictions will be put in place in the city from 2 pm onwards on Tuesday and will extend till 8 pm on Wednesday. “During this time, heavy vehicles such as tipper lorries, container lorries, cement mixers will not be allowed inside the city limits nor will it be allowed to park on the roadsides,” read the statement.
Private vehicles which are used by the devotees will not be allowed to be parked on the roads surrounding the Attukal temple, MC road or MG road as it will create traffic problems. “Any vehicles found to be obstructing the traffic, will be moved by the police and legal action will also be taken,” informed the city police.
The police has also emphasized that no vehicles should be parked next to the pongala hearths to avoid catching fire.
Parking facilities for the private vehicles have been arranged inside the Pappanamcode Engineering College, Neeramankara NSS College, Siva theatre road, Shanghumukham parking ground, Poojappura ground, Thycaud police ground, Kovalam bypass and so on.
The commuters who will be traveling along the roads where the pongala is being performed, have been informed by the police to not go fast and create any inconvenience for the devotees.
KSRTC services
An official from the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) told TNM that there will be bus services and to and from all major locations on Wednesday. “KSRTC has set up a control room along with a station master inside the Attukal temple itself. Like every other year, we have made all the necessary arrangements to make sure that the devotees do not feel any inconvenience,” said the official.
After the devotees are done with the Pongala, they will be able to avail bus services from Kizhakkekotta, Thampanoor, Kamaleswaram, Panavila and Killipalam. “We would request maximum devotees to use the bus services in order to avoid any sort of traffic problems,” said the city police statement.
Like every other year, this year also, the city corporation has enforced the ‘green protocol’ to curb single-use disposables. According to a report by Deccan Chronicle, city Mayor VK Prasanth has said that strict action will be taken against people violating the green protocol.
The mayor has also informed that the renovation work has been completed in all the 31 wards. “Streetlight maintenance has been completed. In order to ensure clean drinking water, the civic body has arranged 7 tanker lorries. Drinking water has been made available at 28 busy points in the festival zone,” said Prasanth.