Choutuppal and its surrounding areas are experiencing a surge in travel as the upcoming elections approach. Many citizens are returning to their hometowns to vote on May 13, creating traffic chaos along the Hyderabad-Vijayawada National Highway No 65. The traffic congestion started on Friday evening and reached a standstill on Saturday, especially on the Vijayawada route near the GMR toll plaza in Pantangi village.
The influx of travelers from Hyderabad and other regions, as well as from Andhra Pradesh, has put a strain on transportation networks. People are using buses, trains, personal vehicles, and rentals to reach their native places in Nalgonda and Khammam districts of Telangana. The surge in traffic has led to long queues at the toll booths, with 20-25 thousand additional vehicles passing through the Panthangi Toll Plaza on Saturday.
To manage the increased traffic, the GMR management has deployed extra staff at the toll plaza. The police have also closed some roads in Choutuppal town temporarily to prevent accidents. The situation on the national highway is reminiscent of the high congestion seen during the Sankranthi festival in the Telugu states.
Despite efforts to manage traffic, some motorists faced challenges at the toll plaza due to the lack of FASTag or insufficient funds in their accounts. Many drivers without FASTag or enough funds initially faced delays and fines. Some motorists recharged their accounts on the go without checking if the amount was credited properly before entering the toll booths.
