Tourist hotspots in Andhra Pradesh's Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district descended into traffic chaos on Sunday, with thousands of vehicles brought to a standstill on the scenic Araku ghat road. The weekend winter rush led to massive gridlocks, leaving visitors stranded for hours.
Vehicles Stalled for Kilometers in Peak Winter Rush
The traffic snarl stretched for an alarming two to three kilometers on both sides near the popular hill stations of Lammasingi and Araku. The roads leading to Lammasingi in Chintapalle mandal and sections of the ghat road towards Araku were completely jam-packed due to the heavy influx of holidaymakers.
This surge is attributed to the winter season, with tourists flocking to experience the chilly weather. Minimum temperatures have dipped to single-digit Celsius in pockets of the ASR district, drawing crowds eager to witness the foggy conditions of Araku, Lammasingi, and other areas.
Tourist Spots Overflowing, Hotels at Full Capacity
The district is witnessing an unprecedented tourist inflow from across Eastern and Southern India. A significant number of visitors have arrived from West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and other parts of Andhra Pradesh over the past few days.
Consequently, the hospitality sector is booming. Hotels and resorts in Vizag city, Araku Valley, Ananthagiri, and Lammasingi are reporting 90 to 100 percent occupancy. Major attractions in and around Visakhapatnam are also teeming with visitors from morning till evening.
These sites include:
- RK Beach and Kailasagiri
- Tenneti Park and Rushikonda
- Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP)
- Bheemili, Thotlakonda, and the Kursura Submarine Museum
- TU-142 Aircraft Museum
Locals Warn of New Year's Eve Chaos
Local residents confirmed the severe impact of the tourist avalanche. K Ramu, a native of Araku, stated that the heavy inflow of vehicles directly caused the widespread traffic jams across parts of the ASR district. He expressed concern that vehicular traffic to Araku and Lammasingi is expected to increase further for New Year's Eve, potentially leading to utter chaos on the winding ghat roads.
Tourists on the ground recounted their ordeal. D Sudhakar, who visited Araku with friends, said, "We finally escaped the traffic snarl after more than an hour of hardship. The ghat roads were choked with vehicles both heading towards and returning from Araku."
According to locals, the scale of the rush was monumental. They estimated that more than 12,000 tourists thronged Araku, Lammasingi, Tajangi, and other spots within the ASR district on Sunday alone, highlighting the immense pressure on the region's infrastructure during the peak season.
