TG writes to Centre for toll exemptions from January 9 - 18

metro india news  I hyderabad

In a proactive effort to alleviate traffic woes for lakhs of travelers heading home for Sankranti, the Telangana government has formally requested the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to waive toll fees on the busy Hyderabad-Vijayawada national highway. Minister for Roads, Buildings, and Cinematography, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, has written a letter to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, urging toll exemptions from January 9 to 18.

This move aims to ensure seamless movement without the usual bottlenecks at toll plazas, allowing vehicles to pass freely and reducing delays significantly. "Our priority is to make the festive journey safe and hassle-free for everyone," Minister Komatireddy emphasized, highlighting that such a waiver would prevent stops and enhance public convenience during the peak travel period.

The request specifies toll-free passage for outbound traffic from Hyderabad to Vijayawada between January 9 and 14, and for the return journey from January 16 to 18. This aligns with the expected surge in unidirectional traffic, which typically starts from the weekend prior to January 13 and reverses post-festival. Data from key toll points like Panthangi, Korlapahad, and Chilakallu indicates a 200% spike in volumes compared to normal days, often leading to inordinate delays. He has also expressed readiness to meet Gadkari personally within the next couple of days if needed to expedite the decision. Komatireddy further said that if Centre does not accept the proposal, the state government would come forward to pay a nominal amount to NHAI and seek toll free movement in this period.

Complementing this central appeal, the state government held a comprehensive review meeting at the Secretariat, chaired by the R & B Minister, to devise on-ground strategies for traffic management. Attendees included top officials such as Special Chief Secretary Vikas Raj, district collectors from Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Nalgonda, and Suryapet, along with representatives from NHAI, MoRTH, police, and R&B departments. Under Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's directives, the focus was on zero inconvenience, drawing lessons from past festivals where congestion marred travel experiences. With around one lakh vehicles expected daily, officials were instructed to remain vigilant and coordinate seamlessly.

Key measures outlined include suspending non-essential roadworks, lane closures, and heavy machinery operations during peak days, restricting urgent repairs to low-traffic nighttime hours. All debris, construction materials, and equipment must be cleared beforehand, ensuring full lane availability. High-visibility traffic boards, cones, barricades, and reflective stickers will be mandatory at work sites to prevent confusion, with adequate lighting for nighttime safety. Roadwork personnel are required to wear reflective jackets, and 24/7 route patrols, cranes, and ambulances will be deployed. A dedicated incident management control room will monitor events in real-time.

Additional traffic police will be stationed at congestion-prone spots like LB Nagar, Vanasthalipuram, Panama Godown, Hayath Nagar, and Ramoji Film City. Toll plazas will see extra teams to facilitate smooth flow, with ongoing coordination between local police, NHAI, and MoRTH. Komatireddy plans a field visit on Wednesday to Toopranpet and Abdullapurmet areas to assess preparations firsthand. 

Why not for Dussehra? 

Ask netizens

The government's decision to bear the toll charges during Sankranti has drawn criticism from certain quarters. The Telangana government has come forward to reimburse the toll fees for vehicles traveling to hometowns during the festival. However, several netizens are pouring in criticisms regarding this announcement. They are questioning why a similar exemption was not provided during Dasara, which is celebrated on a much larger scale in Telangana, while it is being offered for Sankranti, a festival more prominently observed in Andhra Pradesh.

Although the decision aims to reduce traffic jams on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway considering the heavy Sankranti rush, questions are being raised about the absence of such relief during Telangana's major festivals like Dasara and Bathukamma. Some netizens opine that the move appears politically motivated and primarily benefits travelers heading to Andhra Pradesh.