Chennai, January 22 (IANS). In view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Tamil Nadu on Friday, massive traffic diversions have been announced on the Chennai-Tiruchi National Highway (GST Road) and adjacent roads.
Chengalpattu district police said these restrictions are being imposed as part of security arrangements for the Prime Minister’s participation in the National Democratic Alliance’s election rally at Madurantakam on January 23.
According to the police advisory, there will be a ban on plying of heavy vehicles on GST Road between Chennai and Tindivanam from 7 am to 7 pm on Friday.
The rally, to be held on the Chennai-Tindivanam stretch of the highway, is the first major public meeting of the NDA before the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and is expected to attract a large crowd and volunteers from across the state.
The Prime Minister will address the rally and give a special election speech. Leaders of NDA constituents, including All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Bharatiya Janata Party, Pattali Makkal Katchi, Tamil Nadu Congress and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, are expected to attend the meeting.
For heavy vehicles going from Chennai to Tindivanam, police have advised diversion via Vandalur-Kelambakkam-Mamallapuram and East Coast Road (ECR), which reconnects with GST Road at Marakkanam. Alternate interior routes via Vandalur, Padappai, Oragadam, Walajabad, Kanchipuram, Vandavasi, Tiruvannamalai and Villupuram have also been reported.
Vehicles heading towards Chennai from Tiruchi and Salem have been asked to use the diversion corridor via Ulundurpet, Tiruvannamalai, Vandavasi and Kanchipuram.
Government buses and light motor vehicles will face diversion between 11am and 7pm on Friday. Traffic from Chennai towards Tindivanam and Villupuram will be diverted either through ECR-based roads or through internal routes via Kanchipuram and Vandavasi.
Chennai-bound vehicles from Villupuram and Tindivanam have been directed to use Marakkanam-ECR or designated bypass routes.
Police have urged motorists to plan their journeys, follow traffic signals and cooperate with personnel on duty to ensure smooth traffic flow during the Prime Minister’s visit and high-profile public meeting.
–IANS
SCH