Heavy Dasara holiday rush led to hours-long traffic jams at Pantangi Toll Plaza near Hyderabad. Despite extra measures, congestion persisted on the Vijayawada highway.

Hyderabad: Thousands of commuters heading back to the city after the Dasara break faced massive traffic snarls at Pantangi Toll Plaza in Choutuppal mandal, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district, on Monday. Vehicles piled up along the Hyderabad–Vijayawada National Highway, forcing many to spend hours on the road.

Although the toll plaza has 16 collection gates, only 10 were opened on the Hyderabad-bound side. To ease the backlog, toll staff in certain lanes even allowed vehicles to pass through without collecting fees. Yet, the sheer volume of returning traffic kept congestion alive for several hours.

The recurring chaos at Pantangi during festival seasons highlights an urgent need for better traffic planning and infrastructure upgrades. Experts suggest widening approach roads and fully utilising toll gates could reduce gridlocks. For regular commuters, staggered travel times or using alternative routes may help avoid long delays.