Sankranti 2026 rush: One lakh vehicles a day expected on Hyderabad–Vijayawada NH-65 from Jan 8
Officials were instructed not to close roads during the festival rush
By - Sistla Dakshina Murthy
File Photo
Hyderabad: Vehicular movement on the Hyderabad–Vijayawada National Highway (NH-65) is expected to witness a sharp surge from January 8.
“Nearly one lakh vehicles would be using the stretch daily during the Sankranti festive season,” said Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy on Tuesday.
He directed all departments concerned to remain on high alert to prevent traffic congestion and ensure smooth passage for motorists.
High-level review on festive traffic management
The minister reviewed traffic management measures on national highways in and around Hyderabad, keeping in view the heavy holiday rush.
He said advance planning and coordination were essential to avoid inconvenience to commuters, recalling traffic challenges faced during previous festival seasons.
CM is monitoring the situation
Venkat Reddy said Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is also closely monitoring the arrangements and has asked officials to accord top priority to traffic regulation during the festival period.
Focus on congestion-prone stretches
The Minister identified LB Nagar, Vanasthalipuram, Hayathnagar and Abdullapurmet as major congestion-prone areas where traffic volume is expected to peak. He announced plans to conduct field inspections at Tupraanpet and Abdullapurmet to assess ground-level preparedness.
No road closures during festival days
Officials were instructed not to close roads during the festival rush.
Heavy roadworks and the use of large machinery were prohibited during daytime hours. Any unavoidable works, he said, must be taken up only at night when traffic density is low.
Clear signage and safety measures mandatory
Emphasising road safety, the Minister directed that all ongoing roadworks must be clearly marked with visible signboards both during the day and at night. High-visibility cones and barricades should be placed to clearly distinguish work zones from traffic lanes, ensuring zero confusion for motorists.
Additional traffic police deployment
He ordered the deployment of additional traffic police personnel at busy junctions, toll plazas and other key locations. All departments were asked to maintain constant coordination with local traffic police on diversions and regulations and to strictly implement their instructions.
Toll plaza and incident monitoring
The Minister said all highway incidents would be continuously monitored through a dedicated Incident Management Control Room.
Additional teams will be deployed at toll plazas to ensure uninterrupted vehicle movement and prevent long queues during peak travel hours, he said.
Komatireddy requests Centre to provide toll-free travel on Hyderabad–Vijayawada NH during Sankranti rush
Meanwhile, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy has also written to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Jairam Gadkari, seeking toll-free movement on the Hyderabad–Vijayawada National Highway during the Sankranti festival period.
In a letter to the Centre on Tuesday, the Minister said traffic on the stretch surges by nearly 200% every year, beginning from the weekend preceding January 13, with largely one-way movement from Hyderabad to Vijayawada, followed by the return rush after January 16.
Citing toll collection data from Panthangi, Korlapahad and Chilakallu plazas, he pointed out that the heavy inflow results in severe congestion and long delays, aggravated by bottlenecks at junctions, habitations and ongoing road works.
While assuring that the State Government is coordinating with NHAI, MoRTH agencies and traffic police to ease movement, he requested toll-free passage from January 9 to 14 (Hyderabad to Vijayawada) and January 16 to 18 (Vijayawada to Hyderabad) in the larger public interest, to ensure smooth and hassle-free travel for festive commuters.
