Commuters move on a street illuminated with lights ahead of the Attukal Pongala festival in Thiruvananthapuram on February 28.
| Photo Credit: PTI
The Thiruvananthapuram City police have announced traffic regulations and parking restrictions across the State capital in connection with the Attukal Pongala festival to be held on Tuesday (March 3, 2026).
The curbs will be in force from 1 p.m. on Monday (March 2, 2026) until 8 p.m. on Tuesday to ensure the smooth conduct of the ritual and public safety.
Container lorries, goods carriers and other heavy vehicles will not be permitted to enter the city limits or park on roads within the Corporation area during the restricted period. Vehicles found causing obstruction or posing safety risks will be removed without prior notice, and legal action will be initiated, a police advisory stated.
Parking will be strictly prohibited on both sides of major roads and adjoining bylanes surrounding the temple precinct and other congestion-prone areas. Devotees arriving in private vehicles have been directed not to park on arterial stretches, including MC Road and MG Road, or on roads surrounding the temple.
Moreover, parking on footpaths, narrow roads and major junctions has been completely banned. The police have also prohibited setting up Pongala hearths on footpaths and warned against parking vehicles near such hearths to prevent fire hazards.
Designated spots
Devotees travelling by vehicle have been instructed to use the designated parking grounds identified across various parts of the city, including open grounds, school campuses, college grounds and bypass parking zones in areas such as Karamana, Pappanamcode, Nemom, Thiruvallam, Poojappura, Vazhuthacaud and Vellayambalam.
Heavy vehicles travelling between Attingal and Neyyattinkara have been rerouted via Kazhakuttam and through Sreekaryam, Kesavadasapuram, Pattom, Vazhuthacaud and Poojappura. Vehicles from Nedumangad, Vattiyoorkavu, Kattakada and other eastern areas have also been assigned specific diversion routes to reduce congestion near the temple zone.
Traffic from Neyyattinkara towards Kazhakuttam has been directed via Balaramapuram, Vizhinjam and the NH-66 bypass. Vehicles from Kovalam and Vellayani will be regulated through Thiruvallam junction and the bypass road.
After the festival, vehicles heading towards Kollam, Attingal, Chirayinkeezhu and Varkala will be diverted through the coastal road from Chakka via Veli and Perumathura. Traffic towards Kottarakkara and Venjaramoodu will be routed through Eenchakkal and the Kazhakuttam bypass.
The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has announced special line-up arrangements. Ordinary services towards Ulloor, Sreekaryam, MC Road and Peroorkada will be stationed at Vikas Bhavan and operate via PMG, Vanchiyoor, East Fort and Pazhavangadi.
Buses bound for Neyyattinkara and Nemom will operate via Karamana and Killippalam, while services from Vizhinjam and Thiruvallam will run through the bypass. Long-distance reservation buses will operate from the Thiruvananthapuram Central bus station with special regulation of short-distance fast passenger services.
The police have also advised passengers travelling to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Pongala day to plan their journey well in advance and use the coastal road to avoid delays.
Published – March 01, 2026 05:27 pm IST
