Commuters navigate a street illuminated by lights ahead of the Attukal Pongala festival in Thiruvananthapuram on February 28. Photo credit: PTI
The Thiruvananthapuram City Police has announced traffic regulations and parking restrictions in the state capital in connection with the Attukal Pongala festival to be held on Tuesday (March 3, 2026).
The curbs will be in place from 1pm on Monday (March 2, 2026) to 8pm on Tuesday to ensure the smooth running of the ritual and the safety of the public.
Container vehicles, goods carriers and other heavy vehicles will not be allowed to enter outside the city limits or park on roads within the corporation area during the limited period. Vehicles found to be an obstruction or a safety hazard will be removed without notice and legal action will be taken, a police adviser said.
Parking will be strictly prohibited on both sides of the main roads and adjacent sub-forts surrounding the temple precincts and other congestion-prone areas. Devotees arriving in private vehicles have been directed not to park on major stretches, including MC Road and MG Road, or on roads around the temple.
In addition, parking on footpaths, narrow roads and major intersections was completely prohibited. The police also banned the setting up of Pongala bonfires on footpaths and warned against parking vehicles near such bonfires to avoid the risk of fire.
Designated locations
Devoted vehicle occupants have been instructed to use designated parking lots identified in various parts of the city, including open spaces, school campuses, university grounds and bypass parking zones in areas like Karamana, Pappanamcode, Nemom, Thiruvallam, Poojappura, Vazhuthacaud and Vellayambalam.
Heavy vehicles traveling between Attingal and Neyyattinkara were diverted via Kazhakuttam and via Sreekaryam, Kesavadasapuram, Pattom, Vazhuthacaud and Poojappura. Vehicles from Nedumangad, Vattiyoorkavu, Kattakada and other eastern areas have also been allotted specific diversion routes to reduce congestion near the temple zone.
Traffic from Neyyattinkara towards Kazhakuttam was diverted via Balaramapuram, Vizhinjam and NH-66 bypass. Vehicles from Kovalam and Vellayani will be regulated through Thiruvallam junction and bypass.
After the festival, vehicles bound for Kollam, Attingal, Chirayinkeezhu and Varkala will be diverted along the coastal road from Chakka via Veli and Perumathura. Traffic towards Kottarakkara and Venjaramoodu will be diverted via Eenchakkal and Kazhakuttam bypass.
Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has announced a special lineup arrangement. Regular services towards Ulloor, Sreekaryam, MC Road and Peroorkada will be located at Vikas Bhavan and will be operated via PMG, Vanchiyoor, East Fort and Pazhavangadi.
Buses bound for Neyyattinkara and Nemom will go via Karamana and Killippalam, while services from Vizhinjam and Thiruvallam will go via the bypass. From Thiruvananthapuram Central Bus Station, there will be long-distance reservation buses with special regulation of short-distance fast passenger services.
Police also advised passengers traveling to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Pongala day to plan their journey well in advance and use the coastal road to avoid delays.
Published – March 1, 2026 5:27 PM IST
