Komatireddy Seeks Toll-Free Travel Between Hyderabad–Vijayawada During Sankranti Rush

Hyderabad: Anticipating massive traffic congestion during the Sankranti festival season, Roads & Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy has requested the Centre to allow toll-free movement on the Hyderabad–Vijayawada highway for a limited period in January 2026.

In a letter addressed to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, the Minister said Sankranti triggers a sharp spike in vehicular movement between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, particularly from Hyderabad to Vijayawada starting the weekend before January 13. He noted that traffic volumes during this period rise to nearly 200 per cent of normal levels, leading to long delays at toll plazas such as Panthangi, Korlapahad and Chilakaluripet.

The Minister pointed out that return traffic after January 16 also witnesses similar congestion, worsened by bottlenecks caused by junctions, habitations and ongoing road works. To ensure smooth flow and avoid inconvenience to commuters, he proposed toll-free travel from Hyderabad to Vijayawada between January 9 and 14, and from Vijayawada to Hyderabad from January 16 to 18, in public interest.

Komatireddy Venkat Reddy said the state government is coordinating with NHAI, MoRTH and traffic police, and urged the Union government to consider the request to ease festival travel for lakhs of passengers.