The Hyderabad-Vijayawada national highway witnessed a surge in traffic on Sunday as families traveled to their hometowns for Sankranti, the major festival in Telugu states. Vehicles, including cars and buses, lined up at toll plazas, with authorities implementing special measures to manage the congestion. The Pattangi toll plaza near Hyderabad experienced significant traffic, with people journeying to towns and villages in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Authorities opened extra gates at Pattangi due to the high volume of vehicles, with the Fast Tag system aiding in smooth traffic flow. Around 70,000 vehicles traveled from Telangana to Andhra Pradesh between Saturday evening and Sunday morning, a number expected to rise. The journey from Hyderabad to Patangi Toll Plaza, usually taking one hour, stretched to 3-4 hours, causing a kilometer-long jam.
Traffic congestion was also reported at Peddakaparthy and Chityala in Nalgonda district due to ongoing road construction work. Police suggested an alternate route to Vijayawada via Bhongir to ease traffic. In Suryapet district, traffic heading to Khammam and Rajahmundry was diverted through another route. The Telangana government requested toll-free movement on the highway during the Sankranti festival season to alleviate traffic issues.
Railway and bus stations in Hyderabad were crowded as passengers traveled to celebrate Sankranti with their families. Special trains and buses were arranged to accommodate the festive rush, with the number of travelers expected to increase. The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) and Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) announced the operation of thousands of special buses to various destinations within and outside the states.
