Sankranti rush: 12 Lakh vehicles expected on highways, says R&B Minister

Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy said nearly 12 lakh vehicles are expected to exit Hyderabad during the festive season, marking a significant increase from the 9 lakh vehicles recorded last year.

He said officials have been instructed to open toll gates immediately whenever traffic congestion builds up, particularly at the Pantangi toll plaza, which often witnesses heavy traffic during peak festive hours. He said the arrangements are being closely monitored to avoid long queues and delays.

The minister said he is personally overseeing the Sankranti traffic arrangements and added that coordination with the Director General of Police has ensured adequate deployment of personnel for traffic regulation and security along key routes.

As part of emergency preparedness, ambulances have been stationed at every 20-kilometre interval on major highways, while cranes have been deployed to promptly remove stalled or broken-down vehicles to prevent bottlenecks. A toll-free helpline has also been set up to assist travellers during the festive rush.

The Minister said the State government will take responsibility for traffic management and safety measures up to the Telangana border and appealed to motorists to adhere to traffic advisories for a smooth and safe Sankranti journey.