Telangana Requests Toll-Free Travel on Hyderabad–Vijayawada Highway During Sankranti

Hyderabad, Dec 2025 : The Telangana government has formally requested Union Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari to permit toll-free travel on the Hyderabad–Vijayawada highway during the Sankranti festival to manage the surge in festive traffic.

Roads & Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy sent a letter to Gadkari seeking temporary exemption from tolls from January 9 to January 18, citing a sharp increase in highway traffic during this period. According to the minister, traffic on this route rises by 200 per cent during the festive season, creating delays at toll plazas and along the highway.

Sankranti, a major festival in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, triggers heavy unidirectional traffic from Hyderabad to Vijayawada, beginning the weekend before January 13. The returning traffic flow occurs after January 16 until the weekend, as reflected in toll collection data from Panthangi, Korlapahad, and Chilakallu. “This surge leads to significant delays, especially at toll points,” Venkat Reddy noted in his letter.

He also highlighted additional factors that contribute to congestion, including junctions, habitations along the highway, and ongoing construction work. The state government is coordinating closely with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), and traffic police to ensure smooth movement of vehicles.

The minister requested toll-free passage from Hyderabad to Vijayawada between January 9 and 14 to ensure seamless travel. Similarly, he urged toll-free travel in the return direction from Vijayawada to Hyderabad from January 16 to 18 in the public interest.

In a review meeting with officials, Venkat Reddy stressed that no traffic issues should affect travelers during the Sankranti festival. He directed a proactive action plan, taking into account previous years’ experiences, and instructed all departments to remain on alert three days before and after the festival. He emphasized that heavy vehicles should be restricted from using the highway during these critical days.

To coordinate traffic management, the R&B Minister called for a special control room, with 108 ambulances, medical teams, and personnel from Revenue, Police, R&B, and NHAI ready to respond to emergencies. Venkat Reddy also announced his plan to personally inspect the highway on a motorcycle to ensure smooth operations.

“I have written to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari requesting toll exemption during Sankranti when lakhs of people travel. If required, I will personally meet him to expedite the approval,” he said.

The minister further stated that, if necessary, the R&B department is prepared to facilitate nominal toll payments at plazas to maintain traffic flow while ensuring public convenience.

He also emphasized the need for a comprehensive plan to prevent traffic jams on the Hyderabad–Vijayawada highway during the festival, ensuring that people can travel safely and without unnecessary delays.

With these measures, the Telangana government aims to provide uninterrupted and smooth movement for festival travelers, prioritizing safety and efficiency on one of the state’s busiest highway corridors during the Sankranti celebrations.

Team Maverick.