KTR questions acquisition of Bahadurpally farmers’ lands for bullet train project
BRS working president KT Rama Rao questioned the proposed acquisition of agricultural land in Bahadurpally for the bullet train project, suggesting unused airport land as an alternative. He urged farmers to remain united and pledged legal action against indiscriminate acquisition
Published Date - 28 September 2026, 03:40 PM
Hyderabad: Coming down heavily on the Congress government, BRS working president KT Rama Rao questioned its decision to acquire agricultural land from farmers in Bahadurpally for the proposed bullet train project when substantial land was already available adjacent to the international airport in the vicinity. He reminded the government that the State had a 13 per cent share in the airport and that the land had also been given on lease to the GMR Group.
After interacting with farmers facing displacement over the bullet train project at Telangana Bhavan on Monday, Rama Rao said the BRS was not opposed to the bullet train but would oppose any land acquisition in the name of the project if alternative government-owned land was available. He pointed out that around 5,500 acres had been acquired for the Shamshabad airport and questioned why the unused portion of the airport land could not be considered for the rail project.
He also questioned the need to acquire around 1,000 acres for a station when a much smaller extent would suffice. He slammed the Congress government, reminding it that farmers who had been cultivating their lands for generations were being forced to part with them.
Stating that the government was conspiring to acquire agricultural land cheaply for real estate ventures of Congress leaders, the BRS working president questioned the need to deploy around 4,000 police personnel at the farmers’ properties if the government had clear documentary evidence to establish its ownership of the land.
He reminded the government that the Congress had earlier promised to return land acquired for the Hyderabad Pharma City after scrapping the project, but was now seeking to use the same land for the proposed Future City. He questioned the government’s plans to expand the Future City project and alleged that the exercise was being used to serve real estate interests. He alleged that the Congress government was sparing the properties of its leaders despite violations of norms, while targeting the lands of the poor.
Rama Rao urged farmers to remain united and not sign away their lands. He said the BRS would continue the legal battle, including approaching the Supreme Court if necessary, to protect their interests. He also assured the farmers that the BRS would continue opposing indiscriminate land acquisition while supporting the bullet train project itself.