Hyderabad is witnessing massive traffic congestion as thousands of families head to their hometowns for Sankranti celebrations. National Highway-65 and major toll plazas reported vehicle counts nearly four times the daily average, with queues stretching for hours. Authorities deployed drones and advisories to manage the surge, urging commuters to plan ahead.
The Sankranti festival has triggered one of the largest annual travel movements from Hyderabad, with highways, bus stations, and railway hubs struggling under the load.
On NH-65, traffic volumes surged to nearly 80,000 vehicles in a single day, compared to the usual 15,000–20,000. The Panthangi Toll Plaza emerged as a bottleneck, with queues stretching for several kilometers. Police confirmed that 43,000 vehicles crossed between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., highlighting the scale of the exodus.
The Hyderabad Traffic Police issued advisories warning of congestion between January 9–13, with return traffic expected from January 16–19. Commuters were urged to avoid peak hours, use public transport, and plan journeys in advance. Railway stations like Secunderabad and Kacheguda also reported heavy passenger movement, with frequent pick-ups and drops adding to gridlock.
Notable Updates / Major Takeaways
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Traffic Surge: Vehicle count on NH-65 quadrupled during Sankranti rush.
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Drone Surveillance: Police deployed drones to monitor congestion hotspots.
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Toll Plaza Bottlenecks: Panthangi Toll Plaza recorded record traffic volumes.
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Advisory Issued: Heavy traffic expected Jan 9–13; return rush Jan 16–19.
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Transport Hubs: Secunderabad & Kacheguda stations saw severe congestion.
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Government Appeal: Telangana sought toll waivers to ease festive travel.
Sources: Reuters India Desk; The Hindu Hyderabad Bureau; Deccan Herald Transport Desk; Hyderabad Traffic Police Advisory.