By Amit Vasudev,Raj Rayasam
Copyright thesouthfirst
Telangana’s Regional Ring Road land acquisition stalls as BRS backs farmers
KTR reminded that Congress had promised before the elections that no one would face problems because of the Regional Ring Road.
Synopsis: Telangana’s Regional Ring Road project faces delays due to land acquisition issues, legal battles, and environmental hurdles. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy set an October-end deadline for completion, threatening officials with dismissal. Farmers protest “forced land grabs,” backed by BRS leader KT Rama Rao, who accuses Congress of betraying promises. The state offers mitigation costs and dialogue to resolve disputes.
The Telangana government is struggling with land acquisition for key infrastructure projects. At the center of the crisis is the ambitious Regional Ring Road (RRR), caught in legal battles, bureaucratic hurdles, and environmental clearances.
At a review meeting on Monday, September 22, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy set a firm deadline. He told the officials to finish land acquisition and compensation for national highways by October-end — or face dismissal.
The warning comes amidst tension with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The government blames the agency for “delaying tactics.” Farmers, meanwhile, are angry over what they call “forced land grabs.”
The Opposition BRS has thrown its weight behind them.
The RRR is a 338-km orbital highway planned to ease Hyderabad’s traffic and spur growth in the suburbs. It spans eight districts and needs over 10,000 acres.
Thousands of farmers face displacement. Fertile farmland is at stake. Delays have pushed up costs. NHAI officials keep flagging “new issues,” triggering the CM’s ire.
Revanth Reddy responds
Revanth Reddy told NHAI officials: “Stop raising doubts piecemeal. Send them all at once.” He asked for clearances for both north and south alignments so that work can move in parallel. The NHAI promised quick nod for the south alignment. But tensions remain.
Also Read: BRS questions Congress silence over Karnataka’s resolution to raise Almatti dam height
Environmental hurdles are another roadblock. Forest and wildlife clearances, some dating back two decades, are under question. Revanth Reddy expressed anger at past lapses. He asked Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao to file a detailed report within a week for legal review.
To move things faster, the state offered to bear costs of wildlife mitigation in non-wildlife areas. It also promised alternative land for affected forests. The Chief Minister called this a goodwill step to win approvals from the Union Environment Ministry.
At the same time, he urged the officials to have a direct dialogue with farmers. “Explain the benefits of road development — jobs, markets, connectivity — and resolve disputes quickly,” he said.
He warned of strict action against negligent collectors, RDOs, and tahsildars. He also allotted two acres in Hyderabad for an NHAI office and signaled readiness to meet Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Bhupender Yadav to sort out differences with the Centre.
BRS takes potshots at Congress
But politics has flared up. BRS working president KT Rama Rao promised support to the victims from Nalgonda, Suryapet districts and Gajwel and Sangareddy constituencies, who suffered losses due to the Regional Ring Road (RRR) alignment when they met him at Telangana Bhavan on Monday, 22 September.
KTR reminded that Congress leaders like Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi had promised before the elections that no one would face problems because of the Regional Ring Road. Farmers voted Congress to power based on those promises. However, after coming to power, the government changed the alignment, causing severe losses to the farmers. He criticized local Congress leaders for completely forgetting the farmers after winning.
Also Read: Telangana cotton output to rise, but rain damage, low prices concern farmers
KTR recalled how land acquisition was done during the BRS regime. He said highest priority was given to agriculture and irrigation projects, making the farming sector prosperous. Whenever land acquisition issues arose in the past, the previous BRS government directly engaged with farmers, ensured rehabilitation, and provided permanent solutions.
But the Congress, he alleged, has been altering alignments both in the case of the Outer Ring Road earlier and now in the case of the RRR, thereby wrecking the lives of poor farmers.
KTR declared that BRS MPs will raise the issue of RRR victims in Parliament and the Rajya Sabha. He also made it clear that the matter will be brought up in the Assembly to hold the government accountable. He appealed to the farmers not to lose morale and not to take hasty decisions. He assured that BRS will stand by the farmers until a scientifically planned alignment is implemented.
KTR urged the RRR victims to demonstrate solidarity by passing resolutions in every village and boycotting the local body elections. If they do so, both the Central and State governments will be compelled to respond, and the issue will come to their notice, he said.
He further said: “Telangana Bhavan is a Janata Garage. Farmers can always come here to consult legal experts, seek support, and get guidance,” KTR said, recalling the theme of an old Telugu movie with title Janata Garage.
He said the BRS will always support the farmers’ struggle. “We will continue our fight till the very end to ensure that the Congress party’s selfish decisions do not ruin the lives of farmers,” he said.
(Edited by Amit Vasudev)
