Roads to be closed intermittently for chariot procession
In conjunction with Thaipusam, various roads will be closed to accommodate the Silver Chariot procession that will start tomorrow.
It will begin from the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Jalan Tun H.S Lee, Kuala Lumpur at 10pm tomorrow and is expected to arrive in Batu Caves at 2pm on Wednesday.
The 13 affected roads are Jalan Tun H.S Lee, Jalan Sultan, Jalan Pudu, Jalan Tun Perak, Lebuh Ampang, Jalan Munshi Abdullah, Jalan Dang Wangi, Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Ipoh, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Ipoh Batu 15 and Jalan Batu Caves.
The roads will be closed again from 4pm on Feb 10 to 2am on Feb 11 as the procession returns from Batu Caves to the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple.
This time, 14 roads will be closed and they are Jalan Batu Caves, Jalan Ipoh Batu 15, Jalan Pekeliling, Jalan Ipoh, Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Dang Wangi, Jalan Munshi Abdullah, Jalan Ampang, Lebuh Ampang, Jalan Tun Perak, Jalan Pudu, Lorong Pudu (roundabout), Jalan Cheng Lock and Jalan Tun H.S. Lee.
Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Devasthanam chairman Tan Sri Datuk R. Nadarajah said 120,000 people were expected to follow the chariot.
“We are expecting this year’s procession to be the largest one yet.
“On Thaipusam day (Feb 9), we are expecting 1.6 million people.
“About 2,000 police officers and 750 temple volunteers will be on duty to ensure the safety of devotees joining the procession and those going to the temple,” said Nadarajah.
He added that a fourth staircase had been built to ease congestion in Batu Caves.
“Devotees carrying paal kudam will use the first staircase and kavadi bearers will use the second staircase.
“The third and the fourth staircases are for devotees coming down from the temple,” he said.
He added that devotees were advised to make way for kavadi bearers during the festival, and only traditional kavadi would be permitted.
“Football-themed kavadi or any themes not relevant to Lord Muruga or Thaipusam will not be allowed into Batu Caves,” said Nadarajah.
On Feb 8 and Feb 9, Rapid KL associate operations officer Samad Karim said Rapid KL buses with the code BC would be in service from 5am to midnight.
“There will be three buses from the Batu Caves LRT station to Gombak, and tickets are priced at RM2 each.
“Twenty buses will service the route from the Batu Caves LRT station to Pasar Seni. Tickets are priced at RM3 each.
“We will release the timetable with the exact timings on our website, www.myrapid.com.my,” he said.
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