ORR, Pantangi toll plaza witnessed heavy rush as people flock to hometown for Sankranti

Long queues of vehicles were seen at the two toll plazas at Pantangi and Nakrekal. Due to non-availability of train and bus tickets, a large number of people preferred to travel in their own cars with their families.

Yesterday, as many as 46,000 vehicles crossed Pantangi toll plaza and the number might touch one lakh today midnight, the police officials, who are regulating traffic on the highway said.

In view of the massive rush, the police are allowing vehicles from seven toll booths for outgoing vehicles from Hyderabad to Vijayawada, while three booths for incoming vehicles to Hyderabad.

Anticipating huge traffic jams in the city to reach LB Nagar to proceed to Vijayawada, most residents from Gachibowli, Madhapur, Kukatpally, Kukatpally Housing Board (KPHB) and Miyapur and its surroundings areas used ORR to arrive at Abdullapurmet to reach the highway. But the narrow service road at ORR near Abdullapurmet led to traffic chaos.

Even as the people are about to breathe easy from the traffic gridlocks at Abdullapurmet, they were forced to face similar problems at Choutuppal as repair works were taken up on both sides of the service road. Keeping in view the chaotic traffic, the Rachakonda police deployed additional police force to regulate traffic.

The LB Nagar junction also faced a major problem because of the sudden surge in vehicles going towards Vijayawada. When contacted, Bhongir Deputy Commissioner of Police, M Rajesh Chandra, told Deccan Chronicle on Saturday that the department was leaving no stone unturned in ensuring smooth flow of the traffic on the national highway.