President Droupadi Murmu in Kerala today: Traffic restrictions

President Droupadi Murmu will reach Kerala on Tuesday for her four-day visit in the state. She will reach Thiruvananthapuram at 6.20 pm and stay at Raj Bhavan. The President will reach Sabarimala at noon on Wednesday and take part at a dinner in Thiruvananthapuram in the evening. She will also visit Sivagiri, St Thomas College in Pala, St Teresa's College in Kochi and stay at a resort in Kumarakom on Thursday.

The President is scheduled to leave for Delhi on October 24 at 4.15 pm. Meanwhile, traffic restrictions will be in place in various parts of the state on the days of her visit. Here are the details:

Sabarimala visit
The President will ascend the sacred Sabarimala hillock after setting up the 'irumudi' at Pampa. Although Governor Rajendra Arlekar and his wife Anagha had initially planned to accompany the President, the plan has been dropped due to security concerns.

The President will land at the Nilakkal helipad at 10.20 pm and proceed by road to Pampa. Instead of taking a dip in the river, she will cleanse her feet, special arrangements for which have been made by the Irrigation Department near the Triveni Bridge. She will prepare the ‘irumudi’ at a ceremony to be held at the Ganapathy Temple and leave Pampa for Sannidhanam in a Gurkha emergency vehicle at 11.10 pm. She will be accompanied by a six-vehicle escort and is expected to reach Sannidhanam by 11. 50 pm.

The Presidengt will ascend the sacred 18 steps (Pathinettampadi) and offer prayers to Lord Ayyappa at 12.20 am. After offering another round of darshan during the Ucha (afternoon) puja, she will rest at the Devaswom guest house. The President will leave for Nilakkal around 3.00 pm and depart for Thiruvananthapuram by helicopter at 4.20 pm.

President's Varkala visit
The President will leave for Varkala by helicopter at 11.55 am on October 23. She will be the chief guest at the Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi Centenary at Sivagiri, where she will also have lunch. She will reach the Pala St. Thomas College ground by helicopter at 3. 50 pm and inaugurate the valedictory function of the college’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations at 4.15 pm. She will depart for Kottayam by helicopter at 5.10 pm and reach the Kumarakom Taj Resort at 6.20 pm, where she will stay overnight.

On October 24, the President will leave for Kochi from Kottayam by helicopter at 11 am. She will be received at the Kochi Naval Airport at 11.35 am and travel by road to St Teresa’s College, where she will inaugurate the college’s centenary celebrations at noon. She will have lunch at Bolgatty Palace at 1.10 pm and rest there. The President will leave for the Cochin Airport from the Naval Airport by helicopter at 3.45 pm and depart for Delhi by a special flight at 4.15 pm.

Restrictions at Sabarimala on Oct 21 and 22
Restrictions will be enforced at Sabarimala Tuesday and Wednesday in view of the President’s visit. Only 12,500 devotees will be permitted ‘darshan’ via the virtual queue today. Sannidhanam and Pampa will be evacuated. Police have instructed devotees at Sannidhanam to descend the hillock in the afternoon. No virtual queue ‘darshans’ will be allowed on Wednesday during the President’s visit.

Traffic regulations, restrictions in Kottayam
    • The Nagampadam private bus stand will remain closed on both days (Wednesday and Thursday) during the restricted hours. Buses will neither be permitted entry nor allowed to operate from the stand.
   • The Thirunakkara old bus stand will remain functional.
    • Autorickshaw and taxi stands will not be allowed to operate in Kottayam town and nearby areas including Thirunakkara, Kanjikuzhi, Baker Junction and Nagampadam.
    • Parking will be prohibited on both sides of the Kottayam–Kumarakom Road. Auto and taxi stands at major junctions will also be banned.
    • Stree-side food stalls and street vending will be prohibited.

Vehicle diversions in Kottayam
    • Private buses heading to Kottayam town from the Medical College side should take MC Road and proceed via Vattamoodu Bridge, Thiruvanjoor, Kanjikkuzhi, KK Road, and circle Thirunakkara Maidan to reach the Thirunakkara old bus stand.
   • KSRTC buses heading towards Ponkunnam, Kanjirappally, and Mundakayam should proceed via Aida Junction, Pulimoodu Junction, and Seemati Roundabout to reach Central Junction, then continue past General Hospital, Baselius College Junction, Collectorate Junction, Kanjikkuzhi, and Manarkad.

  • One-way traffic from Central Junction to Kanjikkuzhi will be suspended temporarily. Two-way traffic will be allowed on this stretch.
    • Vehicles from Muvattupuzha and Kaduthuruthy heading to Changanassery should turn at Pattithanam Junction and proceed via Ettumanoor–Manarkad Bypass and Puthuppally.
    • Vehicles from Changanassery to Ettumanoor should travel via Kurishummoodu, Thengana, Njaliyakuzhy, Puthuppally, and Manarkad–Ettumanoor Bypass.

    • Motorists from Chingavanam to Kottayam should turn at Mavilaangu Junction and proceed via Paakkil, Poovanthuruthu, Kaduvakkulam, and Nalkkavala to reach Puthuppally.
    • KSRTC buses from Changanassery to Kottayam town should deviate at Pulimoodu Junction to reach the KSRTC stand (existing route).
    • KSRTC buses to Ernakulam and Thrissur should proceed via Aida Junction, Pulimoodu Junction and Seemati Roundabout to reach Central Junction, then continue via KK Road, Collectorate Junction, Kanjikkuzhi, Manarkad, and Ettumanoor.

  • Vehicles from Alappuzha and Cherthala heading to Kottayam should take Bund Road via Edayaazham, Kallara, Neendoor, and Ettumanoor.
    • Buses from Cherthala to Kumarakom should halt at Maniyamparambu Road Junction and return.
    • Vehicles heading to Kottayam via Vaikom–Kumarakom Road should reach Edayaazham Junction and proceed via Kallara and Neendoor.

    • Vehicles from Kallara and Neendoor to Kottayam town via Panambalam should reach Kurishupally Junction and proceed via Pulinchuvadu and Kumarakom Overbridge.
    • Private buses from Chingavanam to Kottayam town should suspend services at Kodimatha stand and return.
    • Traffic from Diwan Junction to Kanjikkuzhi will be banned.
    • Vehicles from the Medical College side to Ernakulam and Muvattupuzha should proceed via Kurishupally Junction, Ammanchery, University and Athirampuzha to reach Uppupura Junction, then continue via Kottamuri and Aanamala to reach Kaanakkari Temple Junction.

Thodupuzha–Pala–Kottayam routes
    • Vehicles from Pala to Kottayam should proceed via Pala General Hospital Junction to Ponkunnam Road, then via Paika, Kozhuvanal, Mattakkara, and Ayarkkunnam.
    • Vehicles from Thodupuzha to Kottayam should deviate at Kurinji and Kollappally and proceed via Ramapuram.
    • Motorists from Pala to Ettumanoor, Kottayam Medical College and Ernakulam should travel via the Pala Civil Station.

Traffic regulations in Thiruvananthapuram
Police have also enforced traffic restrictions in Thiruvananthapuram city from Tuesday until October 23. Restrictions will be in place today from 2 pm to 8 pm, Wednesday from 6 am to 10 pm, and on October 23 from 6 am to 12.30 pm. Parking on either side of the Shankumukham-All Saints-Chakka-Petta-Pallimukku-Pattoor-General Hospital-Ashan Square-Museum-Vellayambalam-Kavadiyar Road will not be allowed today.

Parking will not be allowed on both sides of the following stretches in the coming days:
   • Shankumukham to Vellayambalam–Kowadiar Road (from 4 pm to 10 pm on Wednesday)
    • Kowdiar–Vellayambalam–Aalthara–Sreemoolam Club–Vazhuthacaud–Women’s College Junction–Mettukkara stretch  (on October 23) 
   • Kowdiar–Vellayambalam–Museum–Palayam–VJT–Ashan Square–General Hospital–Pattoor–Pallimukku–Petta–Chakka–All Saints–Shankumukham Road

    • Shankumukham–Valiyathura–Ponnara–Kallumoodu–Eenchakkal–Mithrananthapuram–SP Fort–Sreekandeswaram Park–Thakaraparambu Overbridge–Choorakkattupalayam–Thampanoor Flyover–Thycaud–Vazhuthacaud–Vellayambalam Road  (from Tuesday to Thursday) 
   • Vellayambalam–Museum–Corporation Office–Rakthsakshi Mandapam–Bakery Junction–Women’s College Road  (Wednesday) 
    • Vellayambalam–Kavadiyar–Kuravankonam–Pattom–Kesavadasapuram–Ulloor–Aakkulam–Kuzhivila–Infosys–Kazhakkoottam–Vetturod Road  (on Thursday) 

Travel curbs at Thiruvananthapuram Airport
Passengers heading to the domestic terminal should proceed via Venpalavattam, Chakka Flyover, Eenchakkal, Kallummoodu, Ponnara Bridge, and Valiyathura. Passengers to the international terminal should take the route via Venpalavattam, Chakka Flyover, Eenchakkal, Kallummoodu and Ananthapuri Hospital Service Road.

Traffic restrictions in Alappuzha
1. Vehicles heading to Kottayam town from Alappuzha and Cherthala routes should head to the Bund Road and take the Idayazham-Kallara-Neendoor, Ettumanur route.
2. Buses heading from Cherthala to Kumarakom should stop at Maniyaparambu Road Junction and return. 
3. Vehicles heading to Kottayam side via the Vaikom-Kumarakom Road should reach Idayazham Junction and continue via the Kallara-Neendur route.

4. Ambulances from Tiruvalla side to Kottayam Medical College should take the Changanasseri Bypass- Thengana-Puthupally-Manarkad-Poovathummoodu-Sankaranti route.
5. Ambulances from Alappuzha, Cherthala side to Kottayam Medical College should take the Idayazham Junction-Kallara route.

School Sports Fest – traffic restrictions until 28th 
The police have also enforced traffic restrictions in Thiruvananthapuram in view of the school sports fest from Tuesday till October 28. Vehicles transporting students to the mess operating at Putharikandam Maithanam should drop them off there and park either at the Aattukal Temple parking ground or the Airanimuttam Homeo Hospital parking ground. Vehicles bound for sporting venues are required to drop students and park at the designated parking areas.