Pantangi toll plaza on the Vijayawada–Hyderabad National Highway saw heavy traffic on Wednesday as thousands of commuters returned to cities after the Dasara holidays, with congestion reported through Choutuppal in Telangana’s Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district.
The traffic surge came ahead of the reopening of schools and colleges on October 22. Families travelling with children, along with office-goers returning from native towns and villages across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, contributed to long queues at the toll booths during the morning and afternoon peak periods.
Toll plaza authorities activated additional lanes and deployed extra personnel to speed up FASTag scanning and toll clearance. Local police and traffic officers were also stationed at key intersections along the highway to manage vehicle movement, prevent gridlocks and reduce the risk of rash driving during the rush.
According to the report, commuters faced minor delays, but traffic remained largely steady and there were no major accidents or prolonged disruptions. The congestion was concentrated around the toll plaza and adjoining stretches of the highway as vehicles moved towards Hyderabad and other urban destinations after the festival break.
The Vijayawada–Hyderabad highway is a major intercity corridor connecting towns and villages in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana with Hyderabad. Holiday travel peaks place additional pressure on toll facilities, junctions and highway approaches, particularly when schools, colleges and workplaces resume simultaneously.
Authorities expect vehicle volumes on the highway to remain high through the evening as the post-holiday travel rush subsides. Toll management teams and traffic police are continuing to regulate movement and process vehicles through the additional lanes.
