The Kozhikode City police will soon draw up a special action plan to ensure smooth traffic flow and prevent illegal parking during Onam.

A meeting of senior traffic police officers will be convened soon to discuss the action plans and incorporate suggestions from stakeholders. The performance of newly deployed traffic wardens will be reviewed at the meeting to consider the scope of enrolling more personnel.

District Police Chief (Kozhikode City) A.P. Shoukathali said officers in charge of traffic management are preparing a plan to address issues raised by motorists and residents. Instructions will be issued to ensure monitoring by senior police officers to manage traffic flow at major junctions, he added.

As part of crowd control measures, entry of solo-driven cars to the city is likely to be restricted. Several police officers are in favour of the proposal put forth by a section of drivers and traffic police personnel as an easy and practical option to decongest roads. Officers who backed the idea pointed out that it was a practical option adopted for years to bring down the workload of traffic police personnel on duty and avoid moving bottlenecks at the peak of celebrations.

Stringent traffic control measures will be in place on the Thamarassery Ghat Road as well in view of the increase in the number of domestic tourists visiting viewpoints. Parking along ghat road will be banned at least for a week to make the mountain pass safe for travellers. According to police sources, the support of Ghat Road Protection Committee will be sought to help local traffic police squad.

“As usual, security arrangements around all public places covering beach destinations, parks, railway stations, and bus stands will be improved to keep an eye on miscreants. Efforts are on to improve CCTV surveillance at various identified spots in the city,” said a senior police officer at the Town police station. He added that the anti-narcotics squad under the District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force would prepare a separate action plan to track drug traffickers eyeing the festival crowd.

Published - August 14, 2026 09:04 pm IST