Telangana waives toll tax on the eve of Makar Sankranti
What's the story
The Telangana government has waived toll tax for commuters on national highways on January 13 and 16 in view of the Makar Sankranti festival. The move is likely to benefit people, mainly from Hyderabad, traveling in cars and other vehicles to their native places in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for the festival beginning tomorrow. Chief Secretary SK Joshi issued the instructions yesterday.
Legal order
Charges waived for a day before and after Sankranti
Joshi issued instructions to waive the toll gate charges for commuters on national highways to and fro from Hyderabad during the Sankranti holidays, a day before and a day after the festival (January 13 and 16), said an official release. Thousands of people head to their native places in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh every year to celebrate the three-day harvest festival of Sankranti.
Impact
State government's decision will ease traffic on highways
The highways witness a huge rush of travelers during the festival time and it often results in massive traffic jams at toll plazas. The decision to waive toll is expected to ease the traffic on the highways. The first day of the festival is celebrated in the state as 'Bhogi'. The second day is 'Makar Sankranti' and the last day is celebrated as 'Kanuma'.