The Telangana government has asked the Centre to exempt toll charges on the Hyderabad–Vijayawada stretch of National Highway 65 during Sankranti. This move aims to support lakhs of Telangana residents traveling home within the state after the festival. The roads minister, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, wrote to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari about heavy traffic expected from January 9 to 18. He noted traffic rises nearly 200% during this period. Toll booths at Panthangi, Korlapahad, and Chilakallu often cause severe congestion and long delays. NH65 connects Hyderabad with coastal Andhra Pradesh but is also the main route for people going to eastern Telangana districts like Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Nalgonda, and Khammam. Many travelers do not cross into Andhra despite using this highway. The toll fee for a car from Hyderabad to Vijayawada is about ₹360, with ₹80 at Panthangi, ₹120 at Korlapahad, and ₹110 at Chilakallu. During Sankranti, traffic at Panthangi can jump from 25,000 to up to 1 lakh vehicles per day. A toll operator confirmed this sharp increase happens two to three days before Sankranti. Residents say buses are overcrowded, and they prefer using private vehicles despite toll costs. Srisailam M, from Hyderabad, shared that during Sankranti 2025, his car was stuck near Panthangi toll for over an hour. Many believe toll exemption at Panthangi and Korlapahad would greatly ease travel for intra-state commuters. Chilakallu toll remains mainly for traffic entering Andhra Pradesh. The government hopes the Centre accepts this request to reduce travel woes during the busiest festival season. The notice was issued on December 31, 2025.