Vehicular movement around the Goddess Devi Sree Muthumarimman Temple at Austinabad will be subject to strict regulation on February 23 and 24 as part of traffic management measures announced by the South Andaman district administration in view of the ongoing annual pooja and associated religious events.
The restrictions have been imposed under provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, read with earlier notifications of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, with the stated objective of ensuring smooth traffic flow and preventing congestion during peak ceremonial activities linked to the temple festival. The annual pooja, which commenced on February 15, includes a sacred fire walk scheduled for February 23, followed by Maha Annadanam on February 24, both of which are expected to draw large public gatherings.
According to the notification issued by the District Magistrate, South Andaman, no vehicles will be permitted to proceed towards the temple from several key junctions on February 23 between 8 am and 8 pm. These include Prothrapur Junction, Mazarpahad Junction, New Pahargaon and Corbyn’s Chowk Junction. The curbs are intended to restrict vehicular access to the immediate temple zone during the fire walk ceremony, which traditionally attracts a high volume of devotees and visitors.
While access restrictions will remain in force on multiple approach roads, the administration has clarified that the road connecting Pathergudda Junction to Corbyn’s Chowk via the Old Sapna Theatre will remain open for vehicular movement throughout the day. This route has been designated as a key diversion corridor to facilitate essential traffic movement while keeping the temple surroundings congestion-free.
For commuters travelling between Bathubasti and Brookshabad or Chakkargaon, alternative arrangements have been put in place. Vehicles on this stretch have been advised to use the diversion from Pathergudda Junction to Corbyn’s Chowk via Old Sapna Theatre and vice versa, allowing continuity of movement despite the restrictions imposed closer to the temple area.
On February 24, when Maha Annadanam is scheduled to take place, traffic restrictions will be enforced for a shorter duration, from 10 am to 4 pm. On this day, vehicular movement towards the temple will be prohibited from Prothrapur Junction and Corbyn’s Chowk Junction. Other diversion measures, including the use of the Pathergudda-Old Sapna Theatre route, will remain unchanged to manage crowd movement and prevent bottlenecks.
The administration has indicated that the traffic plan has been structured to balance public convenience with safety considerations, especially given the scale of religious participation expected over the two days. Large-scale food distribution and ritual activities associated with Maha Annadanam typically result in increased pedestrian movement, necessitating tighter control over vehicle access.
Commuters have been advised to plan their travel in advance and adhere to the notified diversions to avoid delays. Traffic personnel are expected to be deployed at major junctions to guide motorists and ensure compliance with the restrictions. The administration has also appealed for public cooperation to ensure that religious observances proceed smoothly without traffic-related disruptions.
The Austinabad temple festival is among the prominent annual religious events in South Andaman, and traffic advisories of this nature are routinely issued to manage crowd inflow and vehicular pressure. Officials have reiterated that the measures are temporary and will be lifted once the scheduled events conclude.
