The District Magistrate of South Andaman has announced temporary traffic restrictions at Marina Park in connection with the Street Food Festival 2025 organised by SVPMC. The notification, issued under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 and the Administration’s earlier regulations, states that the Marina Park road will remain closed to vehicular movement on December 6 and 7 from 3 PM to 10 PM. The restriction is intended to ensure public safety, crowd management and smooth conduct of the festival, which typically draws large footfall from residents and visitors.
According to the notification, the two-day event will occupy both sides of the Marina Park road, making traffic closure essential for accommodating food stalls, pedestrian movement and festival arrangements. The decision follows assessments by the administration regarding expected crowd density and the need to prevent congestion in the popular waterfront stretch during festival hours. Officials noted that Marina Park often sees heavy footfall during public events, increasing the importance of controlled traffic measures.
The Street Food Festival has become one of the engaging public events in the city, bringing together local food vendors, culinary groups and visitors looking to experience a variety of dishes. With the festival scheduled during evening hours, the road closure is aimed at creating a safe, vehicle-free zone to allow pedestrians to move freely and vendors to operate without traffic-related risks. The administration’s order highlights that the closure applies only to the two designated days and specific timings.
The notification underlines that the traffic curbs are mandatory and applicable to all types of vehicles, including private and commercial ones. Motorists have been advised to use alternative routes during the restricted hours to avoid inconvenience. Although the administration has not issued detailed diversions in the notification itself, past events have typically seen traffic redirected through nearby arterial roads to maintain flow towards the city centre and adjacent areas.
Authorities expect the festival to attract large crowds, particularly families, students and food enthusiasts who frequent Marina Park during weekends. With vendors setting up across both sides of the main stretch, the traffic-free environment aims to enhance the visitor experience and allow organisers to manage the event logistics effectively. The administration’s order also seeks to minimise the risk of accidental congestion that could arise from vehicle movement in a festival zone.
Public safety has been positioned as a central factor in the decision. Officials implementing the closure are likely to coordinate with traffic police and enforcement teams to oversee barricading, entry points and pedestrian flow. The designated hours, 3 PM to 10 PM, cover the period when most visitors are expected to arrive, aligning with the typical peak hours seen at Marina Park during similar events. The presence of large crowds during these timings underscores the need for controlled access.
The notification also serves as prior information for commuters who use the Marina Park stretch regularly. By announcing the closure in advance, the administration aims to reduce traffic inconvenience and ensure that motorists can plan their movement around the restricted timings. While the festival is expected to create temporary road disruption, officials emphasise that such measures help facilitate smooth event management and maintain order in high-footfall areas.
The Street Food Festival is positioned as a community-oriented event, and the road closure reflects the administration’s attempt to balance public celebration with traffic regulation. The measures are in line with standard practices followed during major cultural or food events in urban centres across the islands. With the notification now issued, authorities expect residents to comply with the restrictions and support the safe conduct of the two-day festival.
