Attukal Pongala: One lakh vehicles expected, parking arranged around T'puram city

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The police have provided parking facilities for the vehicles that come with the devotees for Attukal Pongala, the first after lifting Covid restrictions. Parking facilities will be arranged in school and college grounds around the city. The police estimate that around 1 lakh vehicles, big and small, from different parts of the country will reach the city for Pongal. Many places that were used for parking during previous Pongalas are now occupied by businesses which has posed a challenge for the police. However, the police aims to arrange maximum parking areas along major road sides including bypasses and school and college grounds in the city.

The decision is to allow parking for vehicles coming from Attingal-Kazhakkootam areas on the sides of the bypass and in the nearby grounds as much as possible. Vehicles coming from Neyyattinkara side can park on the road side as far till the PRS Hospital so that traffic is not obstructed. Vehicles from Peroorkada-Nedumangad routes are allowed to park as per convenience till Aristo Junction. Vehicles coming to the temple will be allowed only up to Bund Road, Attakulangara, Manakkad and Karumam. After dropping off people at these places, vehicles can be taken to Pappanamcode Engineering College, Neeramankara NSS College, MMR HS Neeramankara, Shiva Theater Road (one side parking only), Kalpalayam to Neeramankara Petrol Pump (one side parking only), side roads on either sides of Kovalam Bypass (one side parking only), World Market , Shangumugam parking ground, Poojappura ground, Thycaud police ground, Sanskrit college and the grounds of government, semi-government and private institutions and parked according to the directions they need to go without obstructing the road. Around five hundred school and college compounds have been decided for parking in the city.