CHENNAI — The Greater Chennai Traffic Police on Thursday issued comprehensive traffic diversion and parking instructions around Fort St. George ahead of Independence Day celebrations on August 15, saying the measures are intended to streamline security, crowd management and vehicular movement during the flag-hoisting programme.
Duration and general restrictions
The restrictions will be in force from 6.00 am until the flag-hoisting ceremony concludes, the traffic police said. Several stretches around the Secretariat and the war memorial on Rajaji Salai will be regulated and closed to general vehicular traffic during this period.
Roads to remain closed and regulated
| Location | Restriction |
|---|---|
| Kamarajar Salai (Labour Statue to RBI Subway) | Closed to general vehicular traffic |
| Rajaji Salai (north side) including Flag Staff Road | Closed to general vehicular traffic; regulated entry for pass holders |
Vehicles carrying official passes with red and purple designations arriving before 8.10 am will be permitted entry to the Secretariat through Rajaji Salai. Those arriving after 8.10 am will not be allowed to enter the war memorial and will be diverted along Flag Staff Road, Muthusamy Road and Parrys Corner to the PWD parking lot, the police said.
Entry and parking by pass category
- Red and purple pass holders: Entry via Rajaji Salai if arrival is before 8.10 am; later arrivals diverted to PWD parking through designated routes.
- Blue and pink pass holders: Diverted along specified routes to PWD parking area.
- Media vehicles: Directed to park at the PWD lot; overflow to Island Grounds 6th Gate via RBI Subway and NSC Bose Road if PWD lot reaches capacity.
- Vehicles without official passes: Allowed only up to the Labour Statue then diverted to Island Grounds 9th Gate parking; if full, motorists will be required to disembark and use other designated facilities.
"Commuters are advised to follow the directions of traffic personnel deployed along these routes and avoid entering restricted stretches," the Greater Chennai Traffic Police said.
Alternate parking facilities and contingency plans
The traffic department listed several alternative parking and disembarkation points to handle overflow and reduce congestion. These include the outgoing side of Anna Salai, Omandurar Hospital, Sivanandha Salai, Anna Swimming Pool and the MRTS parking area. Motorists without passes who reach the Labour Statue may be asked to get down and proceed on foot or use shuttle arrangements to reach Fort St. George, depending on space availability.
In case the PWD parking lot becomes full, additional vehicles with passes and media vehicles will be routed to the Island Grounds 6th Gate through the RBI Subway and NSC Bose Road, the traffic police said. The police have urged commuters to plan journeys in advance and allow extra time for travel to avoid inconvenience.
Advice to commuters and residents
Residents and commuters travelling in and around the Marina and the Secretariat area are advised to avoid the restricted stretches during the stipulated hours, use alternate routes and comply with directions from on-ground traffic personnel. Those who need to reach the city centre on the morning of August 15 are urged to check for the correct entry point corresponding to their pass category and to be at entry points well before 8.10 am if holding red or purple passes.
The Greater Chennai Traffic Police said the measures are part of security and crowd management protocol for a high-profile national event and that updates, if any, will be issued through official channels.
