Hyderabad: As the Sankranti festival approaches, a large number of people from Hyderabad are heading to their native places. With schools declaring festival holidays and employees getting the weekend off, families started their journeys early Sunday morning. As a result, bus stands, railway stations, and national highways were packed with passengers and vehicles.
According to the police, approximately three lakh people traveled to their hometowns on Friday and Saturday. Heavy traffic jams were reported on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada and Hyderabad-Warangal national highways, causing vehicles to move at a snail’s pace. Due to the rush, several city buses were diverted to Vijayawada, Warangal, Vikarabad, and other districts. The shortage of buses caused inconvenience to city residents.
Many passengers relied on the RTC’s ‘Gamyam’ app for bus information. However, the app stopped working during this crucial Sankranti period. Users repeatedly received the “No City Service” message, leading to frustration among travelers.
Long queues at railway stations
On Saturday, major trains like the Falaknuma Express, Visakha Express, Godavari Express, and Shatavahana Express witnessed heavy crowds. Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel were deployed to prevent any untoward incidents and ensure the safety of passengers.
Traffic jams on Hyderabad-Vijayawada Highway
The roads witnessed a massive surge in vehicles. Officials say this situation is likely to continue for the next four to five days. At the Panthangi toll plaza in the Choutuppal area of Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district, approximately 21,000 vehicles passed between 12 AM on Friday and 8 AM on Saturday. Another 22,000 vehicles passed through between 8 AM and 4 PM on Saturday. This figure represents approximately 2,700 vehicles per hour.
To avoid the traffic jam, vehicles were diverted towards the under-construction Chityal Road. Traffic heading towards Visakhapatnam and Rajamahendravaram was diverted onto the Suryapet-Khammam 365BB highway near Tekumatla. Suryapet SP Narasimha and DSP Prasanna Kumar monitored the traffic using drone cameras. During this time, the SP presented rose flowers to the drivers and wished them a safe journey.
Traffic Jam Due to Flyover Construction
Traffic came to a complete standstill at the ‘Y-junction’ in Nandigama, NTR district, due to flyover construction work. Vehicles were diverted onto narrow service roads, and the poor condition of these roads further slowed down the traffic.
Highway Helpline Number 1033
Passengers facing problems on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway can call the toll-free number 1033 for immediate assistance. This service includes ambulances for accident victims, cranes for removing broken-down vehicles, fuel (petrol/diesel) supply in case of empty tanks, and assistance for punctured tires. These services are available 24×7, and help usually arrives within 20 to 25 minutes.
Steep Hike in Air Ticket Prices
Airlines have tripled ticket prices between January 11 and 14, taking advantage of the festive rush. Flights from Shamshabad (Hyderabad) to Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Tirupati, which usually cost between Rs 2,500 and Rs 3,500, have reached approximately Rs 9,000. Similar inflated fares were observed for return journeys as well.
