Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Saturday stayed the Rajiv Rahdari road widening project, ordering status quo in response to petitions filed by affected property owners. This interim relief is seen as a significant victory for the Joint Action Committee (JAC), which has been advocating a limit of 100 feet instead of widening the road to 200 feet. The High Court has scheduled the next hearing on December 30.
JAC president Telukunta Satish Gupta, while supporting the development, said the expansion should not come at the cost of residents’ livelihoods. Gupta urged the government to give fair compensation to the land acquirers in the form of land of equal value. He said that the fight for justice will continue until the interests of all the victims are addressed.
On Friday, Gupta sought a High Court order to stop Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) employees from proceeding with road work. The petitioners argued that the land acquisition process violated the Land Acquisition Act of 2013 and constitutional rights. They highlighted the lack of Social Impact Assessment (SIA) and inadequate compensation for displaced property owners.
Residents of the affected areas, including Secunderabad and Bowenpally, expressed relief at the court’s intervention. Some described the status quo order as temporary relief, urging the government to ensure a fair settlement. Gupta emphasized that only those who join the petition will benefit from legal protection and encouraged more affected people to come forward.