Traffic Jams on Hyderabad-Vijayawada Highway Due to Sankranti Rush
Thousands of families from Hyderabad and nearby areas traveled to their hometowns in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to celebrate Sankranti, leading to heavy traffic on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway. On Sunday, long queues of cars, buses, and other vehicles were seen at toll plazas, despite special measures taken by authorities to reduce congestion. A significant rush was observed at the Panthangi toll plaza on NH-65 near Choutuppal in Yadadri-Bhongir district.
To manage the situation, officials opened additional gates at the toll plaza. Vehicles heading toward Andhra Pradesh were allowed to pass through 12 gates, while only four gates were allocated for vehicles returning to Hyderabad. Authorities reported that 1.43 lakh vehicles passed through the toll plaza on Friday and Saturday, an eightfold increase compared to regular days. Thanks to the FastTag system, over 1,000 vehicles per hour were able to move smoothly toward Vijayawada.
On regular days, only 150-200 vehicles use this route. However, the surge in traffic caused significant jams between Abdullapurmet and Kothaduem, as well as at Choutuppal and the Korlapahad toll plaza in Nalgonda district.
Rush at Bus and Railway Stations
In addition to highway traffic, bus and railway stations in Hyderabad and Secunderabad were crowded with passengers heading to their destinations across both Telugu states. To accommodate the increased demand, the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) announced it would operate 6,432 special buses until January 15. These buses will cover destinations within Telangana and neighboring states.
Similarly, the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) is running 7,200 special buses for Sankranti travelers. Of these, 3,900 buses are being operated until January 13 to cater to passengers traveling before the festival, and 3,300 buses will operate after Sankranti for the return journey. From the 3,900 buses, 2,153 are departing from Hyderabad.
Special Trains for Sankranti Travelers
To handle the extra rush, the South Central Railway is operating 366 special trains during the Sankranti season. These additional trains aim to provide relief to passengers and ensure smoother travel during one of the busiest times of the year.
