Highway havoc defines this Sankranti as revelers’ rush overwhelms the Hyderabad-Vijayawada lifeline. What should be a 4-hour drive has ballooned into 10+ hours for many, stranding thousands in vehicular purgatory.
Contributing factors include festive shopping sprees in Hyderabad markets, loaded trucks with festival produce, and inter-state buses packed to capacity. Critical chokepoints at Pedda Malkapuram and Keesara report zero movement at times.
Eyewitnesses describe scenes of organized chaos: traffic marshals on megaphones, volunteers distributing water, roadside vendors thriving on captive customers. ‘My family’s waiting with hot ariselu, but we’re crawling,’ lamented IT professional Priya from her SUV.
Rooted in agrarian heritage, Sankranti celebrates the Makara Sankranti with sun worship, bonfires (bhogi mantalu), and kite festivals. Urban professionals reconnect with roots, carrying urban luxuries to rural feasts.
Mitigation efforts ramp up: extra CCTV monitoring, highway patrol units, and collaboration with apps for predictive alerts. Andhra Pradesh Police urges no overtaking in jams, while Telangana focuses on flyover clearances.
As stars emerge, the convoy inches forward, powered by anticipation. This traffic tale is quintessentially Indian—festive fervor trumping logistics, unity in shared struggle. Safe travels to all, and may your pongal be delay-free.