CHENNAI: In view of the Pongal festival rush, Tambaram City police have imposed restrictions on the movement of heavy vehicles on GST Road on January 12, 13, 14, 18 and 19 to prevent traffic congestion.
The restriction has been enforced to facilitate hassle-free travel for passengers heading to and returning from their native places and to enable easy access to the Kilambakkam Bus Terminus from various parts of Chennai.
On Monday, heavy vehicle movement was prohibited from 2 pm to 2 am on roads connecting to GST Road, including the Kundrathur-Pammal-Pallavaram Road, Tiruneermalai Road, 200-feet Thoraipakkam-Pallavaram Radial Road, Velachery-Tambaram Road, Kelambakkam-Vandalur Road, Walajabad-Vandalur Road and Mudichur-Tambaram Road.
Heavy vehicles coming from Chengalpattu towards Tambaram will be diverted via Singaperumal Koil-Oragadam Road, Vandalur-Padappai Outer Ring Road. Vehicles approaching Tambaram via Kundrathur Outer Ring Road will be redirected at the Madha Engineering College service road towards Sriperumbudur.
Similarly, heavy vehicles from Kancheepuram and Oragadam heading towards Tambaram will be diverted through the Mudichur Outer Ring Road. Vehicles coming from Maduravoyal will be diverted at the Maduravoyal Bypass flyover towards Poonamallee. Those travelling on the Outer Ring Road towards Tambaram will be turned back at the Mannivakkam junction and routed via Oragadam.
On ECR, heavy vehicles heading towards Chennai will be diverted from the Kovalam junction towards Tiruporur. On OMR, heavy vehicles will be diverted at Padur towards Mahabalipuram.
Traffic police have advised motorists travelling between January 12 and 19 to avoid GST Road during peak hours and use ECR and OMR routes for smoother, congestion-free travel during the Pongal festival.