Motorists navigate a heavily congested stretch of Amaravati Road in Guntur city on Monday. | Photo Credit: T. Vijaya Kumar Residents of Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC) are hoping that the candidates contesting for the mayor and 76 corporator posts in the November 1, 2026, urban local body elections would offer practical solutions to the city’s growing traffic problems.Traffic congestion has become a regular problem, particularly during morning and evening peak hours on working days, affecting employees and students in the city.The stretch from Autonagar to the APSRTC bus station and the road towards Ponnur witnesses heavy traffic.

The road connecting the bus station to the GMC headquarters, located in the heart of the city, remains busy throughout the day, with a large number of buses passing through it.Other congested areas include the GMC vegetable market, Etukuru road, Collectorate, Pattabhipuram, Gujjanagundla, Lakshmipuram, Brindavan Gardens, Koritepadu, and JKC College Road. Traffic has also increased on Amaravati Road in recent years, partly due to the development of the capital city.

The Mahatma Gandhi Inner Ring Road stretch from the RTO office to Autonagar is also witnessing growing traffic.Residents alleged that roadside vendors encroaching on roads is a major factor aggravating congestion. They said that establishing designated vending zones would help address a significant part of the problem.

It may be noted here that the GMC did not establish the zones, despite plans for them. Voters urge the candidates to prioritise traffic management and provide lasting relief from congestion.