Kohima Police issue traffic advisory for Hornbill Festival

DIMAPUR — Ahead of this year’s Hornbill Festival, scheduled from December 1 to 10, Kohima Police have issued a traffic advisory to ensure smooth vehicular movement and public safety in and around Kisama Heritage Village.

According to the advisory, entry to the festival venue will be strictly regulated, with only vehicles carrying valid car passes allowed through gate-1. Parking will be permitted only in the designated zones corresponding to each pass category.

Holders of Car Pass X, Y and PWD passes will park near gate-2, while Car Pass Z vehicles will park near the main arena/WW-II museum via gate-2. Parking for organisers and artistes will be at the amphitheatre through gate-1 and the Imagiland junction.

For vendors, vehicle entry will not be permitted through gate-1. Instead, vendor vehicles may enter only via the Japfu Christian College and Legislators’ Park road before 9 am and after 6 pm, with exit via Imagiland.

Vehicles parked near gate-2 and heading towards the southern districts or Manipur have been advised to exit through Imagiland, while those bound for Kohima will exit via the Rhododendron Resort/National Highway.

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Kohima Police informed that all vehicles without valid car passes must park at Kimipfüphe local ground at Kigwema. A free shuttle service will operate between the ground and the festival venue throughout the event.

Alternate route

Vehicles arriving from Dimapur and Chümoukedima have been advised to take the alternative route via the Old KMC check gate—Jotsoma—Nagaland College of Music and Fine Arts—Forest Colony—BSNL Exchange—PHQ Point/Aradura—Phesama—Kisama. Additional LMV parking will also be available at Phesama ground.

A total of 35 free shuttle buses will operate from the designated parking areas to Kisama. In addition, 10 paid NST buses will run from PHQ Point and ISBT, with fares fixed at INR 50 and INR 80 respectively.

It strictly prohibited parking on the National Highway between Phesama old check gate and Kisama. Illegally parked vehicles will be towed without prior warning, and owners will bear towing charges of INR 1,500 along with a penalty of INR 500.

Read more: Kohima Peace Memorial & Eco-Park dedicated to Nagas–Japan friendship

Heavy vehicles will not be allowed to enter Kohima from 7 am to 10 pm during the festival period. Those coming from Manipur will be diverted via Tadubi–Kidima–Chakhabama–BSF/Keyake–Meriema–Tsiesema (10 Mile)–Peducha. Vehicle owners have also been advised to display their contact numbers on their windshields while parking.

Night carnival

For the Hornbill Night Carnival scheduled from December 1 to 10, the stretch from Y-Junction Phoolbari to Razhü Point will remain closed to all vehicles from 4 pm to 9 pm daily. LMVs will be diverted through the road adjacent to Khuochiezie local ground.

City buses will terminate at Phoolbari (southern side) and Razhü Point (northern side. Heavy public utility vehicles heading towards High School will be diverted from the TCP Gate through Tsutuo Kharu to the IG Stadium by-pass road.