Thaipusam: Two million people expected to throng Batu Caves - police

Some two million Hindu devotees and visitors are expected to throng Batu Caves for the annual Thaipusam celebration from Jan 15 to Feb 15.

Gombak District police chief ACP Zainal Mohamed Mohamed said yesterday that traffic congestion is expected to take effect around Batu Caves from Thursday, Feb 2, to next Monday, Feb 6.

He said the chariot procession would leave the temple in Jalan Tun HS Lee at around 10pm on Friday and arrive at Batu Caves at around 3pm on Saturday.

Seven roads around the Batu Caves Temple will be closed from midnight tonight (Feb 3) until Feb 8.

The seven roads are the Kampung Melayu Batu Caves traffic light junction, the Middle Ring Road 2 turn off to the Batu Caves Temple and the traffic light junction in front of the Shell Batu Caves petrol station,” Zainal Mohamed said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur last night.

"Other roads are the Jalan SBC 8/Jalan Lama Batu Caves junction, the Middle Ring Road 2 turnoff from Sri Gombak headed to the Jalan Perusahaan Batu Caves and Jalan Perusahaan toward the Batu Caves Temple.

Updates on Gombak IPD Facebook page

Zainal Mohamed said the alternative routes proposed by the police will be updated through the Gombak IPD Facebook page.

“Road users are advised to use alternative roads and public transport to avoid traffic jams," he said.

Meanwhile, Sentul District police chief ACP Beh Eng Lai said in a statement yesterday that traffic on several roads will be diverted tomorrow (Saturday), from 4am to 10am, for the chariot procession.

The roads include Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah (both ways) from the Sentul IPD traffic light intersection to the Jalan Perhentian traffic light intersection and the same stretch between 6 m and midnight on Feb 6.

Beh advised road users to plan their travel and choose alternative routes to avoid being caught in traffic congestion.

In Ipoh, police said there will be traffic diversions and road closures in several areas in the city from 6pm today until Feb 7 in conjunction with the celebration.

Ipoh District police chief ACP Yahaya Hassan said this includes the period when Kavadi bearers go from the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Jalan Sungai Pari, Buntong to the Sri Subramaniyar Temple in Gunung Cheroh, Jalan Raja Musa Aziz through the city, on Sunday from 6am to midnight.

The first phase of road closures and traffic diversions will take place from 6pm today until 12.30am on Saturday during the chariot procession from the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple to the Sri Subramaniyar Temple.

“The final phase is the during the chariot’s return journey to the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple from 4.30pm on Jan 6 until 10.30am on Tuesday,” he said.

Among the routes involved in the chariot procession are Jalan Sungai Pari, Jalan Tun Perak, Jalan Lahat, Jalan Sultan Yusoff, Jalan Sultan Iskandar, Jalan Sultan Idris Shah, Jalan Laxamana, Jalan Raja Musa Aziz, Jalan Raja Ekram, Jalan Dato' Onn Jaafar, Jalan Dato' Ahmad Said, the hospital roundabout and Jalan Perhentian.

Meanwhile, Dang Wangi District police chief ACP Noor Dellhan Yahaya, in a statement, said that traffic on several roads will be diverted to make way for the Thaipusam chariot procession.

He said the traffic diversion would take place from 10pm today until 4am on Saturday.

The roads affected are Jalan Tun HS Lee, Jalan Sultan, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Jalan Tun Perak/Pudu, Jalan Leboh Ampang, Jalan Ampang, Jalan Munshi Abdullah, Jalan Dang Wangi, Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Sri Amar, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah and Jalan Tun Razak.

In addition, Noor Dellhan said there will be traffic diversions at Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Jalan Sri Amar, Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Dang Wangi, Jalan Munshi Abdullah, Jalan Ampang, Jalan Leboh Ampang, Jalan Tun Perak/Pudu, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Jalan Sultan and Jalan Tun HS Lee, from 8 pm on Feb 6 until 3am the following day (Feb 7).

He advised road users to plan their journey and use alternative routes and obey the instructions of police officers on duty to avoid getting stuck in traffic congestion during the period.

- Bernama

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