NHAI, cops gear up for congestion free Sankranti on NH 65

Nalgonda: In anticipation of the Sankranti festival, the police and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) have launched extensive measures to prevent vehicular congestion at toll plazas along National Highway No. 65, which connects Hyderabad and Vijayawada.

Last year, the festive rush led to big traffic jams at the Panthangi and Korlaphad toll plazas on NH 65, as well as at the Gudur toll plaza on the Hyderabad-Warangal highway. To address such challenges this year, authorities have issued advisories urging drivers to ensure smooth vehicle flow during peak travel days associated with the Sankranti holiday, which spans from January 11 to 17.

NHAI project director Nageshwar Rao said that toll plazas at Panthangi and Korlaphad, now managed by different agencies after previously being under GMR Expressways Private Limited, are coordinating closely to handle the increased traffic. "Approximately 1.5 lakh vehicles passed through Panthangi toll plaza in the two days leading up to last Sankranti. We anticipate a similar volume this year from January 13 to 15," Rao added.

To facilitate seamless movement, more than 10 toll gates will be operational, and emergency services including cranes and ambulances will be stationed every 30 kilometers, with towing services available every 60 kilometers. Additionally, the district police have increased personnel deployment at critical points such as Choutuppal, where traffic bottlenecks are common during high-volume periods.

Complementing these efforts, the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) in the Nalgonda region is set to operate special bus services from January 10 to 20 to alleviate passenger traffic. Regional Manager K. Jan Reddy announced that a total of 398 special services will run from seven bus depots between January 10 and 13, followed by 370 services from January 15 to 20. "These special buses will be deployed on routes experiencing the highest passenger demand," Reddy explained.