Thiruvananthapuram, 22 Jan (H.S.): Elaborate traffic and security arrangements have been put in place across Thiruvananthapuram in connection with the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, police officials said. Parts of the city, including Shanghumugham, the airport area, Putharikandam and East Fort (Kizhakkekotta), have been declared temporary red zones for today and tomorrow.
As part of heightened security, the use of drones, camera-equipped aerial devices, kites and balloons has been banned within a two-kilometre radius of these locations. All vehicles entering the city will undergo security checks at border points. Parking along roads on the Prime Minister’s route will be prohibited during his movement, and traffic restrictions will be enforced on feeder roads connecting to major arteries.
Special traffic regulations will be in force tomorrow from 7 am to 2 pm. Authorities said traffic diversions will be implemented between 10 am and 11 am, and again from 12 noon to 1 pm, depending on the Prime Minister’s travel schedule. Commuters have been advised to plan their journeys in advance and follow police instructions to avoid delays.
During the visit, the Prime Minister will flag off three new Amrit Bharat trains allotted to Kerala, marking a significant boost to rail connectivity in the region. The Railways have released the routes and timings of the services: Thiruvananthapuram North–Chorlapalli, Nagercoil–Mangaluru Central, and Thiruvananthapuram Central–Tambaram.
The Tambaram service will operate via Nagercoil. The Nagercoil–Mangaluru train will depart at 11.30 am on Tuesdays and reach Mangaluru by 5 am on Wednesday. The return service will leave Mangaluru Junction at 8 am and arrive in Nagercoil at 10.05 pm, passing through Thiruvananthapuram and Kottayam.
The Chorlapalli–Thiruvananthapuram train will leave Chorlapalli at 7.15 am on Tuesdays, reach Thiruvananthapuram by 2.45 pm on Wednesday, and return from Thiruvananthapuram at 5.30 pm the same day, reaching Chorlapalli by 11.30 pm on Thursday.
Officials said the measures are aimed at ensuring smooth movement, public safety and the successful conduct of the Prime Minister’s programmes in the city.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
