With Sankranti approaching, there has been a significant increase in traffic on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway. Many people are traveling to their hometowns in anticipation of the holidays. Due to the high demand for tickets in public transport, families are choosing to travel in private cars, leading to more vehicles on the road.
The Patangi toll plaza in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri is experiencing heavy congestion, with vehicles queuing up for almost a kilometer. Despite the Fast Tag facility, some vehicles are causing scanning challenges, resulting in a traffic jam. To address this, authorities have opened 10 additional gates for Fast Tag transactions to facilitate smoother traffic flow through the toll plaza.
Officials have reported that the toll plaza usually sees around 38,000 vehicles daily, but during the Sankranti rush, this number is expected to reach 70,000. Concerns about the situation worsening closer to the festival have been expressed by those stuck in traffic.
Travelers waiting in the jam have mentioned that this year, there has been a larger rush compared to previous years due to the unavailability of tickets in buses and trains, leading people to prefer traveling in their private cars.
Efforts are underway to manage the traffic, with traffic inspectors, traffic SIs, and staff members working to control the situation. The TSRTC Managing Director has assured that necessary arrangements have been made for passenger safety and comfort, including setting up special camps in congested areas and providing additional facilities as needed. Citizens are encouraged to choose safe travel in TSRTC buses rather than private buses with higher fares.
Special arrangements have also been made at MGBS and JBS stations by TSRTC in anticipation of the festive rush. Traditionally, around two million people from Hyderabad and its surroundings visit their hometowns for Sankranti, with most heading towards coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.
In addition to road travel, trains are also experiencing high demand, with tickets for special festival trains across the South-Central Railway zone almost sold out. The waiting list for these trains is currently over 300, reflecting the challenges faced by travelers during this festive season.
