Onam frenzy holds up traffic in Thiruvananthapuram

Arrangements for additional parking lots

A view of the traffic snarl at Statue Junction in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. Photo: S. MAHINSHA

The capital city saw more number of traffic snarls on Friday as preparations for Onam entered its last phase.

Right from the city’s main thoroughfare, the MG Road, to other roads leading in and out of the city, vehicles had to crawl, literally.

The effect of the jam in the heart of the city had a cascading effect on the other areas as well, including Vellayambalam, Sasthamangalam, the Chakka Bypass, the Eenchakkal Junction, the East Fort area, Pattom, and the Kovalam-Neyyattinkara routes as well.

The morning showers only added to the chaos, as most office-goers chose four-wheelers for travel to avoid getting drenched. The traffic police found it tough to handle the crowd much before the usual peak hours in the morning.

There was a respite for sometime, but the chaos returned by 3 p.m. The unsystematic parking of vehicles on either sides of the arterial roads, lanes and by-lanes only compounded the issue.

Two more days

Assistant Commissioner, Traffic, R. Mahesh said the situation was likely to remain for another two days with the increasing number of vehicles from outside the city, comprising mostly shoppers and traders stocking wares for Onam.

The continuing rain, particularly in the morning, was a major challenge to the efforts to regulate the traffic, he said, adding there was little anyone could do in such circumstances.

The Traffic Police, on its part, had made arrangements to open additional parking lots across the city.

These include grounds and campuses of various institutions in the city that were approved on Friday as parking lots.

Parking lots

Arrangement for parking is being made at the Senate Hall campus, the University College campus, the campuses of the Sanskrit College, St. Joseph’s School, the Government Music College and the Arts College at Thycaud, the Public Office grounds, the Poojapura LBS grounds, and the open space of the Olympic Association Hall.

Deployment of additional traffic had been made. Parking would also be allowed on one side of the main roads depending on the situation, Mr. Mahesh said.