Sankranti Rush Snarls Chennai Traffic on National Highways
Sankranti Rush Snarls Chennai Traffic on National Highways
Roads clog as Sankranti travelers flood highways; authorities deploy drones and toll staff, while rail and bus services run extra to ease the festival rush.
As the Sankranti festival draws to a close, roads around the region tell the story of a massive exodus and return. Vehicular movement on major corridors slowed to a crawl as thousands of people moved from celebration back toward work, with highways leading to Chennai among the densest. The slow crawl turned the evening into a test of patience for commuters and a reminder of how festival traffic can ripple across the national network.
There were long queues at toll gates and at bus and railway stations, with private cars and buses lined up in rows as travelers queued to get through. To ease the burden, authorities rolled out special services by APSRTC and Indian Railways, aiming to clear the festival rush and get people home more efficiently. A traveler heading back toward Chennai described hours of slow movement, highlighting how the return leg can be as challenging as the outbound journey.
Officials said fog in the morning kept speeds down on several stretches, adding to the congestion. Police teams monitored traffic flow using drones at key junctions and on major border routes between districts, while additional staff were deployed at toll gates to prevent bottlenecks. Traffic regulators warned that more congestion could be expected over the next few hours and that the peak may stretch into Monday evening.
Long queues persisted on routes such as Guntur-Hyderabad, Vijayawada-Chennai and Vijayawada-Hyderabad, underscoring how a regional festival can strain highways even as travelers hope for smoother road conditions. Travelers are urged to plan ahead, consider rail or special bus services where possible, and stay updated on traffic advisories as the post-festival rush continues.
