Bachupally residents clash with officials over Praneeth Antilia wall demolition

HYDRAA teams demolished a compound wall at the Praneeth Antilia villa community in Bachupally amid protests from residents. The action, taken following High Court directions, aims to open an alternative route to ease traffic congestion on the busy Mallampet–Bachupally road

Hyderabad: Amid protests from residents, Disaster Response Force (DRF) teams of the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) on Monday demolished a compound wall that blocked a road at the Praneeth Antilia villa community in Bachupally.

Soon after the DRF teams reached the spot, residents of the Praneeth Antilia villas gathered in large numbers and tried to stop the earthmovers deployed for the demolition. Police from Bachupally were deployed at the site to maintain law and order during the operation. A heated argument broke out between residents and the HYDRAA teams, with some residents staging a dharna at the location. Women police personnel later removed the protesters from the site, after which HYDRAA officials continued with the demolition work.

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Meanwhile, Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency Commissioner A.V. Ranganath said the action was taken following directions from the High Court. In a statement, he said HYDRAA had issued notices to the Praneeth Antilia group housing layout to remove the compound wall constructed around the premises.

“Praneeth Antilia is not a gated community as per the HMDA-approved plan and there are no peripheral roads. HYDRAA had removed the compound wall about six months ago, but the Praneeth Antilia society approached the High Court,” he said.

Ranganath explained that traffic along the Mallampet–Bachupally road had increased significantly after the opening of Exit 4 (Mallampet exit) on the Outer Ring Road, leading to severe congestion in the area. He said several colonies in and around Mallampet had requested HYDRAA to open alternative routes to ease traffic.

Following consultations with the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) and the traffic police, HYDRAA decided to open an alternative route through the Praneeth Antilia layout. “For nearly 12 years, residents of the layout enjoyed the benefits of a gated community even though it is a normal group housing layout,” the commissioner said.

He added that removing the compound wall and opening the road would help ease traffic congestion and benefit thousands of residents in the surrounding areas. The official also stated that the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) had started laying a BT road in the stretch, which was expected to be completed by Monday evening.