There are only a few hours left for polling to begin in Telangana, and many residents of the capital Hyderabad whose domiciles are other parts of the State have left or are leaving for those villages and towns to celebrate the grandest symbol of democracy, the polling day.
Public and private institutions declaring Thursday as a hoiday has made it easier for such residents of the city to go back to their home towns.
The MGBS and JBS bus stations, and the various railway stations, have been crowded with passengers since the afternoon, as are trains and buses. Those with their own cars have also left for their native places, and traffic has been severely stressed at various places in the city due to that.
Meanwhile, Rapido has announced free travel for voters in Hyderabad who need to travel to polling stations in the State capital far from where they are.