This Onam, public transport will probably be the best choice for city residents who wish to take their families out for a ride.
With parking woes heightening, going out in one's private vehicle is likely to be a cumbersome affair.
The city Corporation and the traffic police, who are struggling to identify parking spaces, have decided to request government institutions and schools to allow vehicle parking on their premises as a temporary solution to the problem.
The Public Office compound opposite the Museum grounds, that of Tagore Theatre, and of Fort High School are some of the spaces identified so far.
‘Source of revenue'
“We have requested the Fort High School authorities to open their ground for parking. They can give it as a pay-and-use ground. It will be a good source of revenue for the school as well,” Mayor K. Chandrika said.
Apart from this, the Corporation will facilitate parking of 1,000 vehicles at Putharikandam Maidan.
Power House Road, Manaveeyam road, Kanaka Nagar road, Sreevarahom road, and Vettimurichakotta-Vazhappally road will also be used for vehicle parking during the festival season.
Parking of heavy vehicles within the high-security area around Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple will be banned.
Traffic South Assistant Commissioner P. Rajan said a board restricting the parking of heavy vehicles around the temple would be put up on Thursday.
Restriction
“Since a lot of vehicles from other States will also be coming here, we have decided to restrict the entry of heavy vehicles in this area.,” he said.
“These vehicles will be re-routed to the Killipalam-Attakulangara bypass. Parking of light vehicles will be allowed only on one side of the roads leading to the four entrances to the temple from Thursday,” Mr Rajan added.
High-security area
Hawking has been banned in the high-security area surrounding the temple.
Mr. Rajan said that with the roads getting more congested, crackdown on unauthorised vehicle parking on footpaths and roadsides would be strictly implemented.
“Manpower shortage is a major issue for us in the traffic section, especially during the festive days. We will require at least 50 extra policemen to handle the city traffic during these days,” he said.
