Rush hour on the NH-65 (Hyderabad-Vijayawada) in Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri, Nalgonda and Suryapet district limits started as early as 8 a.m. on Wednesday, as natives of Andhra Pradesh headed back home for the election on April 11.
Traffic was bumper to bumper at 10 a.m. at the Panthangi toll plaza, the first gate to Andhra Pradesh on the highway. And vehicles were stranded for at least a kilometre, at several plazas, even as there was no waiver of toll fee, like during the Telangana State elections.
Cars and SUVs were in long queues as a few motorists claimed waiver, citing '3-minute waiting rule'. However, staff at Madgulapally plaza en route Miryalaguda expressed confusion over it.
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A toll official said instructions were sought if any waivers are to be applied.
The traffic was unusually high, and such experience is only during long-weekends or the annual harvest festival Sankranthi in January.
“An average day traffic is anywhere between 12, 000 and 15, 000 vehicles. On special days, it would touch even 20,000,” he said.
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The NH-65 in the old undivided Nalgonda district has four toll plazas enroute – Panthangi at Choutuppal, Korlapahad at Kethepally, Chillakallu and Keesara plazas at the exit of Suryapet near Kodad.
Another gate is between Nalgonda and Miryalaguda, near Madgulapally on the Narketpally-Addanki State highway, that connects to the Rayalaseema region.
The single-phase election in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday will decide candidates for 175 Assembly seats and 25 Parliamentary seats.