Ahead of the Sankranti 2026 festival, the Hyderabad-Vijayawada National Highway witnessed a substantial surge in vehicular traffic as thousands of residents departed Hyderabad for their native towns in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The Gulte article reported that over one lakh vehicles crossed the highway, a figure that aligns with the Telangana Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy's expectation of approximately one lakh vehicles daily during the festive period. However, real-time reports from multiple credible sources for the initial rush period (Saturday evening, January 10, to Sunday morning, January 11, 2026) indicated that around 70,000 to 72,000 vehicles had passed through the Patangi toll plaza. Officials projected this number to rise further as the festival approached. The heavy influx of vehicles led to significant traffic congestion, particularly at key toll plazas like Patangi, Korlapahad, and Gudur. To mitigate the delays, authorities took several measures, including opening additional toll booths, deploying extra police and toll staff, and urging motorists to use alternative routes. The state government had even requested the Centre to allow toll-free movement to ease the congestion. This annual mass exodus during Sankranti underscores the cultural significance of the festival, transforming normally bustling Hyderabad roads into quieter stretches while highways brim with travelers heading home.