Bengaluru–Hyderabad NH Sees Festive Surge In Traffic
From the Hyderabad Outer Ring Road to the Bengaluru airport stretch, there are around eight toll plazas, all of which are witnessing heavy rush
KURNOOL: The Hyderabad–Bengaluru National Highway (NH-44) has seen a sharp rise in traffic due to the Sankranti festival and a series of holidays.
NHAI said the congestion would continue till January 14, with return traffic expected for a couple of days thereafter.
A large number of Telugus from Kurnool and Anantapur districts, employed mainly in the IT sector in Hyderabad and Bengaluru, have been travelling to their native places for the festival, leading to a significant increase in vehicular movement.
On average, nearly one lakh vehicles are now plying on the highway every day, according to official estimates.
Toll plazas choked: Traditionally, Sankranti travel is associated with the East and West Godavari districts, but this year NH-44 has also turned into a busy corridor. From the Hyderabad Outer Ring Road to the Bengaluru airport stretch, there are around eight toll plazas, all of which are witnessing heavy rush.
On normal days, vehicle movement ranges between 70,000 and 75,000 per day. However, the number now surged to nearly one lakh vehicles. Toll plaza operators said that more than 4,200 vehicles were being registered per hour at each toll gate. Major toll plazas such as Kasepalli and Bagepalli were recording the highest traffic volumes.
Toll revenues touch record levels: With the spike in traffic, toll collections have also seen a massive jump. Daily toll revenue is estimated to be over `75 lakh. On average, toll charges collected across the eight plazas range between `750 and `900 per vehicle for a single stretch.
According to toll gate officials, the current collections are an all-time high. Sankranti festivities conclude on January 16, and officials expect similar congestion for at least two more days due to return journeys.
A major portion of NH-44 passes through Kurnool and Anantapur districts, making these regions critical transit zones during festive seasons.
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Points:
- Over one lakh vehicles ply on NH-44 daily
- Toll collections soar during festive rush
* NH-44 at a glance
- Total length: 570km
- Daily vehicle movement: 90,000 to 1,00,000
- Number of toll plazas: 8
- Toll per one-way trip: Rs 750 to Rs 900
- Daily toll revenue: Over Rs 75 lakh
