Toll plazas may prove to be a major hurdle in ensuring smooth flow of traffic leading to the foundation ceremony venue on Thursday. With no word from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to relax toll fee collection at the toll plazas, things are likely to get chaotic, if what had happened during the Godavari Pushkaram is an indication.
On the Visakhapatnam-Vijayawada highway, there are quite a few toll plazas. But traffic jams are most likely at the Tanuku toll gate near Eluru, one at Kalaparru and the one at Pottipadu near Gannavaram.
All those coming from West Godavari and beyond and heading towards Uddandarayunipalem, will have to proceed through these three toll plazas. Though there is an alternate route from Eluru Mini bypass road, vehicles have to invariably pass through Kalaparru toll plaza.
Similarly vehicles arriving from Guntur and southern places have to pass through the toll gate at Kaza near ANU. And on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada route, there is a toll gate at Keesara. All these three routes could witness huge traffic on Thursday. Unfortunately, the authorities have not taken any steps to ease traffic flow at the toll plazas.
“There is no information from the State government to relax toll fee collection at the toll plazas. Unless there is any information, we cannot take any decision,” a senior NHAI official said.
Authorities are expecting a huge turnout of people from different districts who are expected to come in buses and vehicles being arranged for them. “If NHAI collects toll fee at the plazas, it will affect the free flow of traffic, especially during the return journey from the venue,” pointed a Transport Department official.
