In view of New Year’s eve on Wednesday (December 31, 2025) night, crowds are expected at Marina Beach, Elliot’s Beach, and other popular areas, and the Greater Chennai Traffic Police (GCTP) have come up with measures to ensure accident-free celebrations, including the prevention of bike racing and rash driving. Further, to avoid congestion and parking difficulties, the following diversions and parking arrangements have been proposed and will be effected accordingly.
There will be traffic diversions on and around Kamarajar Salai as well as Elliot’s Beach. Foreshore Service Road will be closed for traffic from 7 p.m. on Wednesday to 6 a.m. on Thursday (January 1, 2025).
The parking of vehicles will also not be allowed along Foreshore Service Road from 7 p.m., and all vehicles will be allowed to exit only through Lighthouse Junction.
On Kamarajar Salai, the stretch between War Memorial and Lighthouse will be closed for vehicular traffic from 8 p.m. on Wednesday to 6 a.m. on Thursday.
Vehicles coming from Adyar and heading for Kamarajar Salai will be diverted at Greenways Road and South Canal Road Junction towards Mandaveli, R.A. Puram 2nd Main Road, R.K Mutt Road, and Luz Mylapore.
Those coming from Dr. R.K. Salai and headed for Kamarajar Salai will be diverted at V.M. Street Junction towards R.K. Mutt Road, Luz Junction, Mandaveli, and South Canal Bank Road to reach Santhome High Road and Greenways Road.
Vehicles coming from Parry’s, headed for Kamarajar Salai, will be diverted at RBI subway (North) towards North Fort Wall Road, Muthusamy Road, Muthusamy Bridge, Wallajah Point, and Anna Salai to reach their destinations.
Vehicles will not be allowed towards Kamarajar Salai from Wallajah Point, Swami Sivananda Salai (near Doordarshan Kendra), Wallajah Salai (near Victoria Hostel Road), Bharathi Salai x Victoria Hostel Road Junction, Dr. Besant Road (near MRTS), Lloyds Road x Natesan Road, and from Natesan Road x Dr. R.K. Salai Junction.
The entire loop road from South Canal Bank Road up to Lighthouse Junction will be closed for vehicular traffic as per necessity. On Flag Staff Road, vehicles will not be allowed from Wallajah Point towards the War Memorial from 8 p.m. North-bound MTC buses from Greenways Point will be diverted at the R.K. Mutt U-turn towards Thiruvengadam Street, Devanathan Street, R.K. Mutt Road, Venkateswaraagraharam Street (Saibaba temple), and Nageshwara Park to reach their destination.
MTC buses travelling from north to south will be diverted at RBI North to reach Wallajah Point through Muthusamy Point, Anna Salai, Anna Rotary, Cathedral Road, V.M. Street Junction, Luz Junction, and Mandaveli Junction to reach South Canal Road and proceed to their destination.
All flyovers will be closed for traffic from 10 p.m. on Wednesday till 6 a.m. on Thursday.
Here are the parking arrangements around Kamarajar Salai:
1. Swami Sivananda Salai (from Doordarshan Kendra towards Periyar statue – single-line parking)
2. Wallajah Road (near Tamil Nadu State guest house towards Anna Statue – single-line parking)
3. Island Ground
4. PWD Ground (Opposite Secretariat)
5. Press Club Road
6. PWD Office (police vehicles only)
7. Kalaivanar Arangam
8. Victoria Hostel
9. Bharathi Salai (from Victoria Hotel Road x Bharathi Salai junction – single-line parking)
10. Lloyds Road (near the office of the Commissioner of Differently-abled towards Natesan Road – single-line parking)
11. Queen Mary’s College campus
12. Lady Wellington School
13. NKT School
14. Dr. Besant Road (near MRTS towards Ice House – single-line parking )
15. Bharath Scout campus
16. South Canal Road (towards Mandaveli and Pattinapakkam)
Here are the traffic arrangements at Elliot’s Beach:
1. Vehicles will not be allowed towards 6th Avenue from 8 p.m. on Wednesday to 6 a.m. on Thursday
2. 6th Avenue will be blocked at 5th Avenue Junction, 4th Main Road Junction, 3rd Main Road Junction, 16th Cross Street Junction, and 7th Avenue MG Road Junction towards AnnaiVelankanni Church.
Parking arrangements near Elliot’s Beach:
1. One side on 4th Avenue, Besant Nagar – single-line parking
2. One side on 3rd Main Road, Besant Nagar – single-line parking
3. One side on 4th Main Road, Besant Nagar – single-line parking
4. One side on 5th Avenue, Besant Nagar – single-line parking
5. One side on 2nd Avenue, Besant Nagar – single-line parking
6. One side on 3rd Avenue, Besant Nagar – single-line parking
7. Olcott school, Besant Nagar.
The GCTP said that it has been utilising the services of ANPR (Automated Number Plate Recognition) cameras and CCTV cameras, which automatically detect the violations under Motor Vehicles Act and generate challans. Further, GCTP will intensify regulation of driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, rash and dangerous driving, triple riding, riding without wearing protective head gear, and riding with a tampered silencer.
Published – December 31, 2025 12:47 pm IST
