The Telangana government’s request to the Centre for toll exemption on the Hyderabad–Vijayawada stretch of National Highway 65 during Sankranti will benefit lakhs of Telangana residents who use the same highway to return to their hometowns within the State after the festive season.In a letter addressed to the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, the Telangana Minister for Roads and Buildings, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, flagged the expected spike in vehicular movement between January 9 and 18, coinciding with Sankranti travel. The minister pointed out that traffic volumes during the festival period are nearly 200% higher than normal, leading to severe congestion and long delays at toll plazas, particularly Panthangi, Korlapahad and Chilakallu.NH-65: More than just a Hyderabad–Vijayawada highwayNH-65 is the primary arterial road connecting Hyderabad with coastal Andhra Pradesh. At the same time, it serves as the main exit route from the city for residents heading towards eastern and south-eastern districts of Telangana. Every Sankranti, a large number of families travel from Hyderabad to districts such as Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Nalgonda and Suryapet, and Khammam, many of them never crossing the State border despite using what is commonly referred to as the Vijayawada highway.Where the toll plazas are and how much commuters payThe total distance between Hyderabad and Vijayawada is around 280 kilometres. The Panthangi toll plaza is located about 60 kilometres from Hyderabad, Korlapahad is another 60 kilometres ahead, and Chilakallu lies about 87 kilometres beyond that. On average, a one-way trip from Hyderabad to Vijayawada attracts a toll fee of around ₹360, with approximately ₹80 collected at Panthangi, ₹120 at Korlapahad and ₹110 at Chilakallu for a car. Additional smaller toll plazas may apply minimal charges for those travelling to intermediate destinations.Festive congestion a recurring problemDuring Sankranti, congestion at these toll plazas is a recurring problem. An individual working at a toll plaza control room said the volume of traffic rises dramatically during the festival period. “We usually see around 25,000 to 30,000 vehicles pass through the Panthangi toll booth. During Sankranti, the number triples, with 80,000 to 1 lakh vehicles passing through the booth in a single day. This happens for two to three days before the festival begins,” the official said.“We travel every year to my village near Miryalaguda in Nalgonda district. Even though we call it the Vijayawada highway, we do not go to Andhra. There are times when I take my bike with my brother, which is easier since we do not pay a toll for a two-wheeler. But during Sankranti 2025, I had to take my car and we were stuck near the Panthangi booth for over an hour,” said Srisailam M, a supervisor at a gas agency in Hyderabad.If the proposal is accepted, toll exemption at Panthangi and Korlapahad would significantly ease the burden on such intra-State travellers. It would benefit families travelling to interior mandals of Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Nalgonda, Khammam and Suryapet districts, many of whom rely on private vehicles due to overcrowded public transport during the festival.“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,” said Anitha, a resident of Nalgonda district.The third toll plaza at Chilakallu, located after the Telangana–Andhra Pradesh border, primarily affects vehicles entering Andhra Pradesh, including those bound for Vijayawada, Guntur and nearby regions.Published - December 31, 2025 02:35 pm IST