Chennai, Mar 25:
In view of the upcoming Panguni Peruvizha festival at Kapaleeswarar Temple, scheduled from March 23 to April 1, the Greater Chennai City Police have announced major traffic diversions in and around Mylapore to manage the anticipated crowds.
Key festival events include the Adhikara Nandhi Festival on March 25 at 6:00 AM, the Car Festival on March 29 at 6:00 AM, and the Arubathimoovar Festival on March 30 at 2:30 PM. Traffic restrictions will be enforced based on crowd movement and will remain in place until the completion of each event.
Several roads around the temple will be closed to vehicular traffic during the festival period. No vehicles will be allowed from junctions including Devadi Street, Nadu Street, North Chitrakulam, Sundareswarar Street towards East Mada Street, TSV Koil Street and Adams Street towards South Mada Street, R.K. Mutt Road towards South and North Mada Streets, Luz Junction towards R.K. Mutt Road, as well as St. Mary’s Road, Dr. Ranga Road, and other connecting streets.
The police have also outlined diversion routes for motorists. Vehicles traveling from Royapettah High Road to Mandaveli will be rerouted via Luz Church Road, De’Silva Road, Bakthavachalam Road, Ranga Road, C.P. Ramasamy Road, and R.A. Puram routes. Traffic from Adyar towards Luz will be diverted at Mandaveli through Venkata Krishna Road, Sringeri Mutt Road, Luz Avenue, and Royapettah High Road. Vehicles from Alwarpet heading to Luz will be redirected via Oliver Road, P.S. Sivasamy Salai, Vivekananda College junction, and R.H. Road.
Public transport will also be affected, with MTC buses from Mylapore Tank Terminus temporarily operating near Luz Church Road (Amrutanjan area) during the festival days. Parking arrangements have been adjusted, with no-parking zones designated along Sannathi Street, East, South, and North Mada Streets, and R.K. Mutt Road.
Designated parking areas include Luz Church Road (opposite Kamadenu Kalyana Mandapam) for 100 two-wheelers and 15 cars, Venkatesa Agraharam Road near MRTS Flyover for 100 two-wheelers and 30 cars, and the temple grounds near P.S. Higher Secondary School for 300 two-wheelers and 50 cars. R.R. Sabha on Sundareswarar Street has been reserved exclusively for police vehicles.
The Chennai Police have urged residents and visitors to plan their travel in advance and use the designated diversion routes and parking areas to ensure smooth movement during the festival.