Nehru Trophy Boat Race: Traffic restrictions in Alappuzha, security tightened

With thousands of spectators expected to descend on Alappuzha for the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, the district administration and police have drawn up elaborate traffic and security arrangements, including route diversions, parking restrictions, curbs on boat movement and heightened surveillance around the race venue.

Traffic restrictions:
a)  Vehicle movement in Alappuzha town will be regulated from 9 am on Saturday. 
b) Parking will not be permitted along the roadsides from north of General Hospital Junction to Kaichuṇḍi Junction and Kommady Junction from 6 am on Saturday.
c) Vehicular traffic will be prohibited from Police Control Room Junction eastwards up to Thathampally Kayal Kurishadi Junction from 7 am to 7 pm on Saturday.

Elaborate security in place
Police personnel will be deployed from today to regulate traffic and parking. The area within a 2-km radius of the race track will be declared a temporary red zone. Unauthorised drone cameras will be seized. From 6 am on race day until the end of the boat race, the race track will be off limits to the public and to all watercraft other than boats taking part in the races and those authorised for official purposes.

For security and traffic management, Punnamada and the surrounding areas will be divided into 16 sectors, with more than 1,700 police personnel, including 22 Deputy Superintendents of Police, 50 inspectors and 400 sub-inspectors, deployed under the supervision of the District Police Chief. Personnel will also be deployed on 50 boats on Punnamada Lake as part of the security arrangements.

Shadow police and Special Branch personnel will be deployed in Punnamada and surrounding areas to prevent incidents such as chain snatching and pickpocketing. Unauthorised boats, speedboats and country boats entering the race track after 8 am on race day will be seized. The authorities will recommend that the vessel’s permit and the driver’s licence be suspended for at least three years.

Announcement and advertising boats will not be allowed to operate on or around the race track after 8 am on race day, and the use of loudspeakers will also be prohibited. Violators will have their boats and sound equipment seized, and a recommendation will be made to suspend the boat driver’s licence. Only official boats will be permitted to operate between the DTPC jetty and Punnamada Lake from 10 am on Saturday. 

Those arriving by boat to watch the race should reach the venue before 10 am. Those in the galleries or standing along the banks will face arrest if they throw plastic bottles or other objects into the canals or water bodies. Shadow police personnel will conduct checks at the race venue and surrounding areas to prevent public drinking. Those found carrying or consuming alcohol in public, as well as those causing inconvenience to others, will be removed from the venue and face stringent action.