Nehru Trophy Boat Race: Tight security deployed, traffic restrictions to note

The Nehru Trophy Boat Race, which will be flagged off on Saturday, August 30, is already enjoying record ticket sales. Meanwhile, the authorities are going the extra mile to ensure that the event has enough security personnel on duty. Approximately 1,500 police personnel will be deployed to ensure public safety and regulate traffic in the city ahead of the boat race. Punnamada and nearby places would be divided into 15 sectors and will be managed by teams comprising of 16 DySPs, 40 inspectors and 360 SIs. The district police chief will assign and oversee the duties of the police teams. Additionally, police teams would patrol the lake in 50 boats on the day of the boat race. Moreover, Alappuzha town and the Punnamada area would be entirely under CCTV surveillance.

Restrictions in place
District police chief MP Mohanachandran stated that additional shadow police personnel and special branch officers would be appointed to prevent chain snatching, pickpocketing, and other anti-social activities. Police personnel would be deployed in Punnamada and nearby areas from the night of August 29 onwards. No one would be allowed to enter the pavilion area without a ticket or pass from 6 am onwards on August 30. The boats that enter the race tracks after 8 am, except for official duties, would be seized, and measures would be taken to cancel the boat’s permit and the driver’s licence for up to three years. Announcement/advertisement boats, too, are banned from entering the tracks after 8 am.

Boat services wouldn’t be allowed between the DTPC jetty and Punnamada Lake after 10 am. Those who jump into the lake to enjoy the race would be arrested on charges of trying to disrupt the boat race. Shadow police would be deployed to detain those who consume alcohol publicly, carry alcohol or cause trouble to the public due to drug addiction.

Meanwhile, the public has been advised not to cause any stampede or overcrowding during the journey to the Nehru pavilion and back. According to the Drone Rule, 2021, the 100-metre area around the race tracks has been declared a temporary red zone. The district police chief stated that the drones/heli cameras of those who operate drones, except for official purposes, will be seized.

Traffic restrictions in the city
Traffic restrictions would be imposed in Alappuzha town from 6 am onwards on August 30, the day of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race.

1)Parking isn’t allowed on the roadside from the north side of the general hospital, Kaichoondi junction up to Kommadi junction. The vehicles parked here would be removed using recovery vehicles.

2)Vehicle entry is restricted from 7 am to 7 pm from the police control room junction up to Thathampally kayal kurissadi junction.

3) Vehicles coming from Thanneermukkam, Ernakulam sides should park at Alappuzha beach, police parade ground and canal bunk road via Kommadi, Shavakottapalam bridge and Convent Square.

4)Vehicles arriving from the south direction should be parked at the SD College ground, Chinmaya school ground, Chudukad pump house and TD School ground.

5)Parking has been arranged at Thiruvambady school ground and Carmel School ground for the vehicles coming from the Changanassery side via Kaithavana.

6) Traffic would be restricted in Alappuzha town from 9 am to 9 pm due to the construction of the Kodathi Palam (District Court bridge). All buses, except KSRTC ordinary buses and those that terminate their trips at Alappuzha bus stand, will run services via the bypass. Ordinary bus services are available from Kalarcode and Kommadi feeder stations to the KSRTC bus stand.