Festive travel picks up pace, highways face snarls

HYDERABAD: Roads leading to adjoining cities and states are witnessing snarls due to increased footfall ahead of the Sankranti festival, the first in 2023. Officials said that an increased number of RTC buses between the two Telugu states, besides two-wheelers loaded with luggage, is gridlocking highways.

Rachakonda traffic DCP D. Srinivas said the Pantangi Toll Plaza in Yadadri-Bhongir district, which facilitates travel towards Vijayawada and other parts of Andhra Pradesh, is witnessing heavy rush.

“RTC services in both Telugu states have been increased by about 4,000 vehicles this time. The festival rush is most felt at the LB Nagar and Uppal junctions. We have deployed night teams in two shifts, from 9 pm to 1 am and from 1 am till 4 am, to ensure smooth flow of traffic and avoid congestions. We have also deputed inspectors at important junctions to monitor arrangements,” Srinivas said.

With the increase in footfall, Cyberabad DCP Srinivas Rao said patrolling of highways has been increased and additional forces deployed as a precautionary measure.

“We have seen a lot of luggage-filled two-wheelers heading out this time on the Hyderabad-Bangalore highway. So far, we have not witnessed any issues as the majority of the routes are in the Rachakonda commissionerate,” he said.