Traffic Gridlock on Hyderabad-Vijayawada Route as Thousands Return for Sankranti
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Hyderabad, Jan 12 (NationPress) The Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway has encountered significant traffic delays for the third day running on Sunday as numerous families from Hyderabad and its suburbs journeyed to their ancestral homes in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in observance of Sankranti.
Bus terminals and train stations in both Hyderabad and Secunderabad were bustling with travelers.
Both the Telugu States’ Road Transport Corporations deployed special bus services, while the South Central Railway increased the number of trains to accommodate the surge in passengers.
Vehicles including cars, buses, and other transport modes were lined up at toll booths along the Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway, despite the authorities implementing special strategies to alleviate the traffic build-up. A notable congestion was recorded at the Panthangi toll plaza on National Highway 65 near Choutuppal in the Yadadri-Bhongir district.
To manage the influx, officials opened additional toll gates. Vehicles heading towards Andhra Pradesh were permitted to pass through 12 gates, with only four gates functioning for those traveling from Andhra Pradesh to Hyderabad. Officials reported that 143,000 vehicles traversed this toll plaza over Friday and Saturday.
The volume of traffic surged to eight times that of typical days. Officials noted that the FasTag system was facilitating smooth vehicle passage through the toll booth, with over 1,000 vehicles per hour moving from Hyderabad to Vijayawada.
On regular days, only 150-200 vehicles utilize this route. Major traffic congestion was recorded on the Vijayawada-Hyderabad highway, notably from Abdullapurmet to Kothaduem, at Choutuppal, and at the Korlapahad toll plaza in Nalgonda district.
This year, the Sankranti holidays commenced earlier for schools and colleges. With January 11 being a second Saturday, many families opted to travel to their native communities on Friday. Families were spotted loading their belongings to reunite with loved ones for the harvest festival scheduled for January 14. Both railway and bus terminals in Hyderabad were filled with passengers heading to various destinations across the two Telugu states.
Special trains and buses are being organized from Hyderabad to numerous locations in both states to manage the passenger surge. The volume of travelers is expected to escalate significantly over the next two days.
The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) has declared its plan to operate 6,432 special buses for those journeying to their hometowns. These buses will run from January 9 to 15, covering areas within the state and neighboring regions. The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) has also announced that it will provide 7,200 special buses from various locations in Andhra Pradesh and neighboring states.
From January 8 to 13, around 3,900 buses will be operational for travelers heading home before Sankranti, while 3,300 buses will be available post-Sankranti for the return trip.
Out of the 3,900 special buses, 2,153 will commence operations from Hyderabad. The South Central Railway (SCR) is additionally running 366 special trains to accommodate increased passenger demand during Sankranti.
Annually, approximately 2 million individuals from Hyderabad and surrounding areas travel back to their hometowns for Sankranti. The majority head towards the coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions. No other festival sees such a large number of people returning home, resulting in the otherwise busy roads and junctions in Hyderabad appearing quite deserted.
Sankranti provides a chance for individuals to reconnect with their roots. A significant number of tech professionals, students, government and private sector employees, as well as entrepreneurs from coastal Andhra seize this opportunity to visit their hometowns. Their children relish the holiday experience amid the countryside. Celebrations include visiting fields, flying kites, witnessing adorned bulls, engaging in cock-fights, bullock-cart races, and various rural sports organized for this occasion.
