With Kerala’s capital Thiruvananthapuram preparing for the grand closing ceremony of the Onam festivities on Monday, the State Police Department has put in place certain traffic and parking restrictions across the district on Monday. The grand procession or the ‘khoshayathra,’ which showcases the various cultural and art forms of the state, will mark the end of the 10-day Onam celebrations in state.
The state police department on Sunday stated that traffic restrictions will be in place in the city from 2 pm to 8 pm on Monday, during which vehicles will not be allowed to park on the stretch of road starting from Kowdiar, Museum, Palayam, Statue, Ayurveda College, Overbridge, Pazhavangadi, Kizhakekotta, all the way up to Injakkal in the state capital. A list of diversions that the public should take has also been released by the police.
Vehicles coming into the city from MC road looking to go to Thampanoor or Kizhakkekotta side have been advised to take the Mannanthala - Thycaud route via Peroorkada and Sasthamangalam. Vehicles plying into the city from the National Highway have been requested to take the Ulloor-Medical College-Pattoor-General Hospital-Underpass-Bakery Junction route.
At the same time, the police have also said that heavy vehicles such as trucks and lorries will not be allowed inside the city from 12 pm to 9 pm on Monday.
Taking into consideration the traffic restrictions and the huge crowd that is expected to turn up to witness the procession, the police have also made parking arrangements across the various procession routes. Some of the areas where the public will be allowed to park their vehicles are the University College office compound, University College ground, Women’s College ground, Water Authority Compound, Music College ground, Thycaud police ground, Tagore theatre ground and so on.
People from across the state of Kerala reach the capital city every year to be a part of the Onam festivities that take place in the form of colourful illuminations, cultural programmes and other activities for the public. These festivities could not take place last year as the state government had cancelled Onam celebrations across the state following the devastating floods in August 2018.