Traffic curbs in city today, tomorrow for PM’s visit

Kochi: City police announced traffic restrictions and diversions in connection with PM Narendra Modi's visit to Kochi on Wednesday.The traffic restriction will be in place on the route from Naval Base to Marine Drive, passing through Thevara, Atlantis, Ravipuram, Pallimukku, Jose Junction, BTH Road, Park Avenue Road and Shanmugham Road from 12.00pm to 12.30pm. Police will also implement vehicle diversions away from this route from 11.00am. Buses from Fort Kochi/Mattancherry to Ernakulam/Kakkanad/Aluva will be diverted at BOT East Junction and proceed via Kundannoor, NH 66, Vyttila and Edappally. From Aluva/Kakkanad to Fort Kochi/Mattancherry, vehicles will be diverted at Edappally to proceed via Kundannoor, BOT East and Thoppumpady. Light motor vehicles (LMVs) will be diverted from Fort Kochi at BOT East to take Thevara Ferry, Mattammal, Panampilly Nagar South, Manorama, Kadavanthra and Vyttila to reach Edappally. LMVs from Bolgatty need to take Chathiath Junction, Pachalam, Pachalam Overbridge, Pottakuzhi, Mamangalam and Edappally route. From High Court to Fort Kochi, LMVs must head to Madhava Pharmacy to reach DCC Junction and then proceed via Iyyatil Junction, Chittoor Road, Valanjambalam, Manorama U-turn and Panampilly Nagar. The second VVIP route will be from Marine Drive to Kaloor Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium via High Court, Banerji Road, Madhava Pharmacy, Kacheripady North Overbridge, Judges Avenue and Kaloor. Traffic on this route will be restricted between 12.50pm and 1.20pm. Diversions will include taking Edappally, Mamangalam, Pottakuzhi, Pachalam Overbridge and Chathiath Road to reach High Court from Aluva. From Aluva to Fort Kochi, the Edappally, Vyttila, Kadavanthra, Panampilly Nagar, Thevara Ferry, and BOT East route needs to be taken. The third VVIP route will be from Kaloor Stadium and back to Naval Base. The route will be Kaloor, Banerji Road, Madhava Pharmacy, MG Road, Pallimukku, Ravipuram, Atlantis, Thevara and Naval Base. Vehicles will be restricted on this route from 3.05pm to 3.30pm. Heavy vehicles will not be allowed to enter the city from 10.00pm on Tuesday until the VVIP visit concludes. Facilities will be arranged to allow emergency vehicles, such as ambulances and fire services, to pass without hindrance as per the situation. Meanwhile, police gave directions to the shops functioning from the Kaloor Stadium building to remain shut for two days.