Vijayawada, January 12 – The annual Sankranti festival brought with it a surge of passengers across the state of Andhra Pradesh this weekend, with roads and transportation systems stretched to their limits. Despite round-the-clock special services and enhanced traffic management measures implemented by the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), congestion persisted in several areas, particularly along routes connecting Krishna, twin Godavari, and North Andhra districts.
The APSRTC deployed a total of 8,432 special bus services for the festival, with 6,000 specifically allocated on these key routes. The intense passenger rush during Sankranti indicates a significant movement of people from these regions back to their native villages for the harvest festival.
Vijayawada, Guntur, Visakhapatnam, and Tirupati bus stations saw large crowds from early morning hours, with passengers waiting for extended periods to secure seats on buses headed home. The heavy traffic also caused delays at toll plazas along National Highway 65 (NH 65), one of the main arteries connecting Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
While the Sankranti festival brings joy and unity among families, it also presents logistical challenges for transportation systems across the state. APSRTC officials have expressed their commitment to addressing these issues in the future to ensure a smoother travel experience for passengers during festivals such as this one.
