NHAI Readies Traffic Plan On NH 65 For Sankranti Vehicle Rush
Pantangi toll plaza tests satellite-based toll system: Reports
NALGONDA: The Pantangi toll plaza on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway may allow up to 20 vehicles per minute to pass once the trial of the satellite-based automatic toll collection system is successful. The toll plaza has 16 booths, of which eight on the Vijayawada-bound side were used for the trial. Cameras and sensors were tested to assess whether vehicle numbers were accurately detected and toll amounts deducted automatically without vehicles stopping.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials said minor glitches were noticed during the trial, including toll not being deducted for some vehicles, and steps are being taken to rectify them. A final decision on implementing the satellite-based automatic toll collection system at the toll plaza is yet to be taken. Korlapahad toll plaza manager B. Nagaiah said no communication has been received from NHAI regarding the implementation of the new toll system or any decision on free toll collection during the Sankranti festival.
Meanwhile, in view of the expected festival rush, Nalgonda district authorities and the NHAI have taken measures and issued advisories to ensure smooth vehicular movement on National Highway 65. Last year, about 2.5 lakh vehicles crossed the Pantangi toll plaza during the three days of the Sankranti festival. Officials expect congestion and slow traffic at three to four locations on NH 65 between Hyderabad and Vijayawada during this period.
To ensure free flow of vehicles at Pantangi and Korlapahad toll plazas, NHAI has decided to deploy personnel with handheld FASTag machines in addition to the existing automatic scanners. A large police force will also be deployed at select locations along NH-65 to regulate traffic.
Ongoing construction of flyovers and underpasses at Choutuppal, Chityal and Peddakaparthy is likely to create traffic bottlenecks. To address this, district authorities have taken up repairs of service roads at these locations to divert traffic and prevent congestion.
Suryapet police have advised motorists travelling from Hyderabad to Rajahmundry to take the alternative route via NH-365 at Nakrekal and reach the Devarapally Green Highway through Arvepally-Maripeda Bungalow-Khammam, instead of the Hyderabad-Vijayawada-Rajahmundry route. This route reduces the distance from 540 km to 389 km, saving both time and fuel.
Officials said around 9.97 lakh four-wheelers and about 7,000 buses travelled on NH 65 during the Sankranti festival last year. The vehicle rush is expected to be higher this year. On normal days, 37,000 to 40,000 vehicles cross the Pantangi toll plaza.
