Over 30 Students Miss JEE Mains 2025 Exam in Vizag; Pawan Kalyan’s Convoy Blamed, Police Deny Link

Parents urge NTA to allow special JEE Mains exam; Deputy CM orders probe into traffic claims

More than 30 students in Visakhapatnam reportedly missed the JEE Mains 2025 Session 2 exam on Monday, April 7, due to traffic congestion allegedly caused by Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s convoy. The students were scheduled to appear for the morning shift of the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) 2025, which began at 9 AM, with entry closing at 8:30 AM. Candidates were instructed to report by 7 AM for security checks and biometric verification.

The incident occurred at the ION Digital Zone, Chinnamusidivada, Pendurthi, one of the designated exam centres for JEE Main 2025 Session 2, which is being conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) from April 4 to 15 in two shifts—9 AM to 12 PM and 3 PM to 6 PM.

According to several parents, their children were caught in a traffic jam around the NAD Junction due to the Deputy CM’s movement towards Araku. Parents have alleged that they were stuck in traffic because Pawan Kalyan was on his way to Araku. They claimed that they reached NAD Junction at 7:50 AM, but it took 42 minutes to get to the centre.”

Families of the affected students urged the state government to intervene and request NTA to hold a special exam.

However, the Visakhapatnam police denied any connection between the Deputy CM’s convoy and the students' late arrival. “The Deputy CM passed through the area at 8:41 AM, well after candidates were expected to be at the centre,” a police statement read. Officials also clarified that no roads were blocked before 8:30 AM on either the BRTS route or service roads.

Police added that Monday recorded the lowest absentee numbers—around 30 students—since Session 2 of JEE Mains 2025 began. Typically, absentee numbers range from 60 to 80 candidates per shift.

In response to media reports, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan directed Visakhapatnam police to conduct a thorough probe into the matter. He asked for clarity on the traffic conditions, timing of the convoy movement, and whether any diversions were implemented on key student access routes.

Pawan Kalyan was visiting the Araku region that day to launch road development projects worth ₹1,005 crore, laying foundation stones for over 1,069 km of roads in tribal districts including Dumbriguda in Alluri Seetharamaraju.

As the controversy unfolds, affected students and their families continue to seek relief, hoping the NTA will consider their plea for a re-exam opportunity in light of the circumstances.

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