The Telangana government's well-intentioned plan to ease festive travel hit a major roadblock. Commuters traveling between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh during the Sankranti festival still paid toll charges on the busy Hyderabad-Vijayawada National Highway (NH-65). This happened despite a state government proposal for toll-free travel from January 9 to 18.
Government Request for Toll-Free Movement
On December 30, the state government made a formal request to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. Officials asked for permission to allow toll-free and seamless movement on this crucial stretch in both directions. They cited the annual Sankranti rush as the primary reason.
The proposal aimed specifically to reduce congestion. Every year during Sankranti, thousands of vehicles line up for kilometers at toll plazas. This creates massive traffic jams and frustrates travelers. The government hoped a temporary toll waiver would smooth the flow.
Implementation Failure Despite FASTag
Even with the widespread adoption of FASTag electronic toll collection, heavy traffic volumes consistently cause long delays. The festive season only amplifies this problem. Unfortunately, the proposed toll-free arrangement could not be put into practice effectively.
As a direct result, toll plazas along NH-65 continued to collect regular user fees throughout the festival period. This left many commuters both confused and disappointed. They had expected relief based on the government's announcement.
Commuters Express Confusion and Disappointment
Several passengers returning to Hyderabad after celebrating Sankranti in their Andhra Pradesh hometowns reported paying full toll fees. Key plazas like Pantangi and Korlapahad charged travelers as usual. Many said they were unaware the toll-free plan had not been implemented.
The situation deteriorated further over the weekend. Post-festival return traffic peaked sharply. Thousands of vehicles streamed back toward Hyderabad, overwhelming the highway infrastructure.
Peak Traffic Leads to Long Queues
Long queues formed at multiple toll plazas, especially during evening hours starting Saturday. These bottlenecks caused significant delays for countless commuters. The congestion highlighted the ongoing challenges of managing high-volume holiday travel.
Travelers expressed frustration at the combination of paying tolls and enduring extended wait times. The promised seamless movement clearly did not materialize. This episode underscores the gap between policy announcements and on-ground execution during major Indian festivals.
