Heavy site visitors on Hyderabad-Vijayawada Nationwide Freeway-65 amid Sankranti rush.
| Picture Credit score: RAO GN
Police deployed surveillance drones alongside Nationwide Freeway-65 as site visitors snarls continued into the second day of the Sankranti exodus on Saturday (January 10), with tens of hundreds of households starting their annual journey house and turning the freeway right into a river of automobiles heading in the direction of numerous districts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Toll fare is being collected on the toll plaza although Telangana authorities wrote to the Union ministry for a waiver on account of the competition.
The festive rush was significantly evident on the Panthangi Toll Plaza, a vital checkpoint on the route. Nalgonda police stated the plaza, which generally handles between 15,000 and 20,000 automobiles a day, is prone to file near 80,000 automobiles by the tip of Saturday, a four-fold rise. Greater than 43,000 automobiles crossed the freeway between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday, practically 3 times the each day common of round 15,000. The spike started on Friday (January 9) itself, with greater than 58,000 automobiles recorded in the course of the 24-hour window from 6 a.m., with site visitors volumes peaking in the course of the night, as per the data shared by the Choutuppal police.
To maintain site visitors transferring amid the surge, police deployed two surveillance drones to watch lengthy stretches of the freeway in actual time and determine congestion factors earlier than they escalated. One drone has been stationed within the Suryapet circle, overlaying a 15-kilometre stretch from Tekumatla to Gunjalur villages, whereas one other operates in Kodad, monitoring practically 35 kilometres between Gunjalur circle and Ramapuram X roads. Officers stated the aerial feed has helped floor groups reply rapidly to slow-moving site visitors and minor bottlenecks.

Suryapet police deployed two surveillance drones to watch lengthy stretches of the freeway in actual time and determine congestion factors.
| Picture Credit score:
Particular Association
Alongside the Suryapet stretch, police have additionally deployed extra site visitors personnel at 22 key areas, together with Tekumatla junction, Rayanigudem and Pillalamarri, the place congestion usually builds up throughout peak hours. Officers stated these measures have been aimed toward stopping breakdowns in site visitors movement and responding swiftly to minor incidents earlier than they snowballed into main delays.
Visitors diversions have additionally been put in place close to the NH 365BB, with automobiles diverted at Chivvemla and Ailapuram in the direction of Suryapet city to make sure smoother motion amid ongoing development work and to ease stress on the primary freeway.
Additional east, in Abdullapurmet, police credited the current anti-encroachments drive alongside the nationwide freeway for a visual enchancment in site visitors motion. Unlawful roadside sheds and non permanent constructions have been cleared with the assist of the Roads and Buildings and Income departments, and broken stretches have been levelled in anticipation of the festive rush. Consequently, common car speeds have elevated from about 15 kmph to just about 45 kmph, providing much-needed aid to weary travellers, stated Abdullapurmet Inspector V. Ashok Reddy.
Regardless of the heavy site visitors volumes, authorities maintained that the scenario remained largely underneath management. Officers from the Nalgonda police stated no site visitors jams had been reported on NH-65, although there have been a few choke factors as a consequence of flyover development. Minor congestion was noticed as much as Chityala, however site visitors continued to maneuver steadily with out full standstills.
Inside Hyderabad metropolis, nevertheless, the exodus mixed with native exercise led to slow-moving site visitors on key corridors. Congestion was reported on the stretch from Exhibition Grounds and Nampally in the direction of Dilsukhnagar by way of Afzalgunj, in addition to alongside the Mehdipatnam hall.

Visitors volumes rise on the Mehdipatnam hall as residents go away town forward of Sankranti celebrations.
| Picture Credit score:
Particular Association
Visitors officers stated the Exhibition Grounds route was significantly busy because it serves each outbound travellers and guests to the annual Numaish exhibition, drawing giant crowds. Areas round LB Nagar Stadium additionally noticed sluggish motion, together with heavy site visitors close to main transit hubs such because the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station, JBS Parade Grounds, Secunderabad railway station and Kacheguda.

Residents clog key transit hubs in Mehdipatnam forward of Sankranti celebrations.
| Picture Credit score:
Particular Association
Because the Sankranti weekend unfolds, authorities have urged motorists to plan their journeys, stay affected person and observe site visitors advisories.
Revealed – January 10, 2026 08:50 pm IST
