Traffic restrictions in Thiruvananthapuram

If you are anywhere near (or already in) the capital city of Kerala, it would be pretty difficult to reach your destination as the city is flooded by devotees who are heading to Attukal Devi Temple for the much-famed Attukal Pongala. Lakhs of women are expected to attend the ritual in offering pongala, the sweet porridge, to the goddess. Often called women’s Sabarimala, Attukal Devi temple Pongala has found a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as “the largest gathering of women” based on the 2.5 million turnout in 2009.

Traffic restrictions have started from 2 pm today and will be in place till 8 PM on Friday as part of the Attukal Pongala festival. Tipper trucks, cement mixers, container lorries, and other heavy vehicles will not be allowed into the city limits during this period.

The Kerala State Regional Transport Corporations (KSRTC) will operate special services.

Parking restrictions will be on along the Attukal-Killipalam road, Attukal-Iranimuttam road, Kalady-Karumam-Thiruvallam road as these have been designated as emergency roads.

Vehicles from Neyyatinkara, heading to Attingal or Kollam need to take a deviation from Balaramapuram and take the Vizhinjam-Poovar bypass or the beach road. After Pongala, the vehicles heading towards Kollam should take the bypass route or the Anchuthengu-Varkala route.