Kollam/Alappuzha (Kerala): The State Government has granted a local holiday on Wednesday, September 23, for three taluks in view of the historically celebrated Oachira 28th Onam festival.

The regional holiday applies to Karunagappally taluk in Kollam district, alongside Karthikappally and Mavelikkara taluks in Alappuzha district.

According to the Minister's office, Chief Minister V D Satheesan declared the holiday following the intervention of M Liju, Minister for Co-operation and Excise and MLA for Kayamkulam.


Traffic regulations on National Highway 66

To facilitate the ‘Kalakettu’ festival, celebrated as part of the festival, smoothly, the Kollam City Police have announced traffic restrictions on National Highway 66 (NH 66) starting from 6 am on September 23.

  • Vehicles heading South (Alappuzha to Kollam): Small vehicles and KSRTC buses travelling from the Alappuzha side toward Kollam must divert at Kayamkulam KSRTC Junction onto KP Road. They should proceed via Charummoodu, Chakkuvalli, Bharanikavu, Sasthamkotta and KMML to reach Kollam.
  • Vehicles heading north (Kollam to Alappuzha): Vehicles moving from Kollam toward Alappuzha must turn west at Lalaji Junction in Karunagappally, travel via Panikkarkadavu Bridge onto the coastal road, reach Azheekkal and proceed toward Kayamkulam and Alappuzha via the Valiya Azheekkal Bridge.
  • Heavy and long-distance vehicles: Long-chassis and container trucks travelling from Thiruvananthapuram toward Ernakulam will be parked at the Ashramam Ground in Kollam and allowed to resume their journey once traffic restrictions are lifted.

Kollam City Police Commissioner requested full cooperation from the public and strictly urged all commuters to follow police instructions.