Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway jam-packed with thousands of people heading home for Sankranti
Hyderabad: With miles of families heading towards their native places for Sankranti, there was a traffic jam on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada road on Friday. Automobiles, buses and other transport vehicles formed queues at public intersections, even when authorities took special measures to relieve congestion.
A major avalanche was seen in the plaza at Pattangi near Hyderabad with people heading towards their homes in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Considering the influx, officials opened 10 additional doors. Officials said the installation of FASTag will guarantee fluid movement of vehicles through the plaza.
Due to traffic on the platform, there is movement of about 38,000 vehicles every day, considering the Sankranti avalanche, there is a possibility that this figure will increase to 70,000.
Hyderabad’s railway and bus stations were also filled with passengers heading towards their destinations in both the Telugu states.
With Sankranti holidays beginning in all educational institutions from Friday, they saw families packing their bags to join their loved ones in their native places for the harvest festival celebrated on January 15.
They are running special trains and buses from Hyderabad to various places in both the states to reduce the prices. There is a possibility that there will be a big increase in the number of passengers in the next two days.
Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) has announced that it will operate 4,484 special buses for those traveling to their native cities. These buses will run from January 6 to 15 and will cover within the state and neighboring states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
They will implement regular rates without any hike in these special buses to promote affordable and safe travel during the festive season.
The price of Mahalakshmi, the free travel service for women in TSRTC buses in Telangana, may increase this year. TSRTC has announced that women will be able to travel free in special buses till the state borders. Authorities have asked women to bring their original identity documents to access the facilities.
TSRTC Director General V C Sajjanar said all necessary arrangements have been made to guarantee the safety and comfort of passengers, special camps have been set up in congested areas and additional facilities have been provided as required.
Sajjanar encourages citizens to opt for safe travel in TSRTC buses and avoid private buses with high fares.
In view of the festive programme, TSRTC has made special arrangements at MGBS and JBS stations. The authorities have also provided facilities like awnings, chairs and mobile bathrooms in other boarding points like LB Nagar, Uppal, Aaram Ghar, KPHB, Bowenpally, Gachibowli. To control the crowd of passengers and provide proper service to the buses, closed circuit television cameras have been installed.
Every year, it is estimated that 20 lakh people from and around Hyderabad visit their native places for Sankranti. Most of them head towards the coastal areas of Andhra and Rayalaseema.
On no other festival do people return home in such large numbers. The usual roads and intersections of Hyderabad are quite deserted.
Sankranti provides an opportunity for people to return to their roots. A large number of technicians, students, government and private employees and entrepreneurs from Andhra coast also do not miss the opportunity to visit their native places.
Their children enjoy their holidays with the feel of the grounds. Celebrate the festival by visiting the fields, watching the flying comets, taming bulls, galloping, cart racing and other rural games organized for the occasion.
