NH‑65 turns chock‑a‑block

Vijayawada: Thousands of vehicles passed through the Vijayawada-Hyderabad national highway in the last 24 hours with people coming home for the Sankranthi festival. Though the rush is almost same with Seemandhra’s traveling home for the season, this year it was felt more as more light vehicles were seen on the road passing in long row.

The absence of the private buses, which have been enjoying major share every year, pushing the RTC buses into margin, was felt this year with continued raids on the unauthorised vehicles. The Bengaluru-Hyderabad bus accident that killed 45 passengers had raised an alarm on the safety of the passengers on one side and on the other the illegal operations by the private travels. The raids have thus prevented them from bringing the buses on to the road in the season, forcing people to travel in their personal vehicles.

The fast moving long line of light vehicles all along the road was a treat to the eyes of people in the villages along the highway. The four toll plazas between Hyderabad and Vijayawada have made huge money in the last 24 hours with more number of vehicles passing through. Each light vehicle would have to pay Rs 250 at the four toll plazas together and the amount gained by the toll plazas this time is likely in a few crore rupees.

The vehicles going beyond Ongole from Hyderabad have taken different route from Nakirekal, while those heading towards Rajahmundry leave the highway at Suryapet, thus bringing down the rush on the road between Suryapet and Vijayawada. The vehicular rush at the two toll plazas, Patangi at Chautuppal and Korlapahad near Ketepalli, was more with the vehicles heading to Rajahmundry and Visakhapatnam line and those heading to Ongole and Nellore lined up.