Wed Dec 31 09:05:54 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the provided text and a news article version:

Summary:

The Telangana government has requested the Union government to temporarily waive toll charges on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada National Highway 65 during the Sankranti festival (January 9-18). The request is aimed at easing severe congestion and delays at toll plazas (specifically Panthangi, Korlapahad, and Chilakallu) caused by a 200% surge in traffic volume during the festival. While known as the Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway, many Telangana residents primarily use the road to travel within the state to their hometowns for Sankranti celebrations. Exemption at Panthangi and Korlapahad would significantly benefit intra-state travelers heading to districts like Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Nalgonda, Suryapet, and Khammam. The third toll plaza, Chilakallu, primarily impacts traffic entering Andhra Pradesh.

News Article:

Telangana Seeks Toll Exemption on Hyderabad-Vijayawada Highway for Sankranti Rush

Hyderabad, December 31, 2025 – The Telangana government has formally requested the central government to waive toll charges on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada stretch of National Highway 65 (NH-65) during the upcoming Sankranti festival, spanning January 9th to 18th.

The request, conveyed by Telangana Minister for Roads and Buildings Komatireddy Venkat Reddy to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, cites the expected doubling of traffic volume during the festive period. This surge typically leads to significant congestion and long delays at toll plazas, particularly at Panthangi, Korlapahad, and Chilakallu.

While the highway is widely recognized as the route to Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, the Telangana government emphasizes that a significant portion of the traffic consists of residents traveling within the state to their hometowns in districts like Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Nalgonda, Suryapet, and Khammam for the Sankranti holiday.

“We understand that NH-65 is a crucial link to Andhra Pradesh, but it’s also a vital artery for intra-state travel,” said a government spokesperson. “Exempting tolls at Panthangi and Korlapahad would greatly ease the burden on families traveling to these interior districts, especially those relying on private vehicles due to overcrowded public transport.”

Currently, a one-way trip from Hyderabad to Vijayawada costs approximately ₹360 in toll fees. The Panthangi toll plaza is about 60 kilometres from Hyderabad, Korlapahad is another 60 kilometres ahead, and Chilakallu lies about 87 kilometres beyond that. The proposal, if approved, would primarily benefit those travelling within Telangana, as the Chilakallu toll plaza is located after the Andhra Pradesh border.

Residents who have experienced the Sankranti congestion firsthand expressed support for the proposal. “Last Sankranti, we were stuck near Panthangi for over an hour,” said Srisailam M, a Hyderabad resident who travels annually to his village near Miryalaguda. Anitha, from Nalgonda district, added, “For Sankranti, buses are crowded and tickets are expensive, so we usually take our own vehicle to our village near Chityala. Once we cross the city limits, toll payment becomes unavoidable even though we are not crossing States. It would be good if the government considers people like us who use the highway only for intra-State travel,”

The central government is yet to respond to the request. A decision is expected in the coming days.

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