Devotional Surge Paralyzes Visakhapatnam Roadways During Giri Pradakshina

Lakhs of Devotees Congest Major Transit Corridors

The annual Giri Pradakshina of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy brought Visakhapatnam's transport network to a virtual standstill this Tuesday. As hundreds of thousands of pilgrims embarked on their traditional trek, vehicular movement across the city's primary arteries collapsed under the weight of the massive turnout. By evening, the Maddilapalem–RTC Complex stretch and the NAD Junction–Gajuwaka corridor reported bumper-to-bumper conditions, leaving motorists stranded for extended periods.

Critical Traffic Bottlenecks and Delays

Congestion started early in the day along the Venkojipalem–Hanumanthawaka Road as devotees moved toward Madhurawada. The situation worsened as the day progressed, impacting several key areas:

• Visakha Valley Junction–Madhurawada Road
• Adavivaram–Sontyam Road
• Gopalapatnam Road
• HB Colony Road

On the RTC Complex–Maddilapalem route, commuters reported being trapped in queues extending several kilometers, with some wait times exceeding one hour. The gridlock eventually bled into interior residential streets as drivers attempted to bypass the main blockages via longer alternative paths.

Enforcement Challenges Amid Record Influx

Local authorities deployed significant police numbers and implemented a range of diversions to mitigate the impact of the festival. However, the sheer volume of pilgrims overwhelmed these measures. While regular traffic continued to share routes near the pilgrimage path, managing the simultaneous flow of vehicles and pedestrians proved difficult for officers stationed at major junctions. Residents and commuters voiced frustrations over the systemic delays, noting that even with a heavy police presence, the city's infrastructure struggled to accommodate the scale of the Tuesday event.

Source: The Hindu — Cities