Visakhapatnam sees Sankranti travel and shopping surge

Sankranti Celebrations in Visakhapatnam

Sankranti fervour has gripped Visakhapatnam, with a surge in travel and shopping activity on Saturday. Public transport hubs, including Visakhapatnam railway station, Dwaraka bus complex, Maddilapalem bus station, Duvvada railway station, and Simhachalam railway station, are witnessing heavy crowds. People are heading to their native places due to the start of school holidays.

Travel and Transport Updates

Trains and buses bound for Srikakulam, Berhampur, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram, and Vijayawada are running packed. Private buses from Hyderabad and Bengaluru have been arriving since early Saturday, carrying festive travellers. Many families are also travelling to their hometowns on two-wheelers with luggage and gifts due to the rush.

Shopping Activity

Major commercial areas such as Jagadamba Junction, One Town, Gajuwaka, and Gopalapatnam are crowded with shoppers. They are purchasing new clothes and festival essentials, with many shops offering special discounts to attract customers.

Local Spending

V. Raju, a city resident, said he spent nearly ₹25,000 on shopping this month. He noted that Sankranti requires buying clothes for children and family members for all three days: Bhogi, Sankranti, and Kanuma. He visited several shops and chose those offering the best discounts.

Traffic and Safety Measures

Traffic congestion was reported in several areas, including on NH-16. Traffic police are regulating vehicle movement to manage the flow. Tourist destinations across the city are also seeing heavy footfall, with long queues of visitors adding to the festive rush.

Police Directives

Superintendent of Police, Anakapalli, Tuhin Sinha, has directed the district police to ensure a free flow of traffic along NH-16. This is in response to the increase in vehicular movement, and additional measures will be taken near toll plazas.