Hyderabad: The first phase of panchayat elections began in Telangana, prompting many rural voters living in Hyderabad to travel back to their native villages. Their movement slowed traffic on major exit routes. Heavy outbound flow from the erstwhile Nalgonda and Khammam districts caused long queues near Choutuppal, and several vehicles moved at a crawl along the highway.
Pressure increased on public transport as RTC buses and private vehicles filled early. Commuters struggled to find space, and roadside congestion added to delays around key junctions. Officials monitored the situation as the outward movement continued through the morning.
Panchayat polling traffic strain felt across multiple corridors
LB Nagar saw similar conditions, with a traffic jam extending from Hayathnagar to Vanasthalipuram and reaching Bhagyalatha. The slowdown affected vehicles in both directions and created bottlenecks at signals. Residents travelling from districts farther from Hyderabad had already begun their journey by bus, train or private transport. Their early departure added volume to regional routes and increased overall load on the transport network.