Thuravoor traffic restrictions will affect National Highway users and local roads in and around Thuravoor Mahakshetram during the Deepavali festival, with large vehicles diverted from Sunday morning until the early-hours procession concludes on Monday.
Vehicles travelling from Ernakulam towards Cherthala will be diverted left at Aroor Ambalam Junction and routed through Arookkutty. Vehicles approaching from the Cherthala side through the coastal road will have to reach Chavady, continue via Nalikulangara and rejoin the National Highway towards Ernakulam.
Traffic controls will also be imposed on the Thuravoor–Chavady Road. Parking, including parking by two-wheelers, will not be permitted along the route. Vehicles needing to access the restricted stretch will have to turn away from Puthenchantha and Pattukulangara, according to the report.
The restrictions are scheduled to begin at 6 am on Sunday and continue until the completion of the Kootiyezhunnallath procession in the early hours of Monday. Smaller vehicles will be allowed to use the National Highway, but motorists have been warned that ongoing construction work at Thuravoor Junction could cause heavy congestion.
The reported festival programme includes the Deepavali Valiyavilakku ceremony late on Sunday night and the Kootiyezhunnallath procession early on Monday. Deities from five subsidiary temples of Thuravoor Mahakshetram are expected to be brought to the main temple for the procession. The participating temples are Pattathal Sree Krishnaswamy Temple, Valamangalam Thiruvengitapuram Temple, Mannath Sree Krishnaswamy Temple, Purandareswaram Mahadeva Temple and Kainikkaramana Devi Temple.
Large crowds are expected around the temple as the festival falls on a Sunday. The programme also includes performances by around 200 artists, a major percussion ensemble led by Peruvanam Kuttan Marar, nadaswaram performances by the Nenmara Brothers, cultural programmes and an elephant-feeding ceremony. These events are expected to increase pedestrian and vehicle movement in the area through the day and night.
The traffic diversions are intended to keep festival traffic separate from through-movement on the National Highway while limiting vehicle access to the roads around the temple. However, the ongoing work at Thuravoor Junction means that even vehicles permitted to continue on the highway may face delays. The report advises motorists travelling long distances in smaller vehicles to use the Arookkutty–Cherthala route instead of passing through the congested junction.
The traffic arrangement will remain in force until the early-morning procession is completed, after which normal movement is expected to be restored subject to local conditions.
