The Hyderabad-Vijayawada national highway has turned into a massive bottleneck as the Sankranti festival rush hits its peak. Since Friday, what started as a steady stream of holiday travellers has spiralled into a persistent gridlock, with over four lakh vehicles clogging the route in just the last four days.
The situation is particularly grim at several key points. Ongoing construction work for underpass bridges near Chityal and Pedda Kaparthi has created narrow funnels that are choking traffic for kilometres. Commuters are also facing significant tailbacks as they attempt to navigate the main town crossings in Choutuppal, Kattangur, and Suryapet.
To keep things moving, toll plaza authorities have shifted into high gear. At the Pantangi plaza, 11 of the 16 available booths have been dedicated solely to Vijayawada-bound traffic. Over at Korlapadu, half of the 12 booths are currently handling the festive surge in the same direction.
Police have even deployed drones to get a bird's-eye view of the congestion and manage the build-up in real time, but they’ve warned that there is no quick fix. With the festival just around the corner, officials expect the heavy volume to persist till Tuesday, advising travellers to brace for significant delays.
Also read: Crimes against children, women rise in Hyderabad in 2025
Follow us
