Choutuppal farmers protest expansion of RRR junction
NALGONDA: Farmers in Choutuppal are protesting against the proposed expansion of the Regional Ring Road (RRR) junction, alleging government interference in the project’s southern alignment.
The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) released a preliminary notification on August 30 announcing the alignment and invited objections until September 15. Farmers turned the HMDA office at Ameerpet into a protest site, demanding that the alignment be rolled back.
The junction, planned at Choutuppal municipality limits to connect the northern and southern segments of RRR, was initially designed over 78 acres. Last month, the government revised the plan to a “dumbbell-shaped” design spread across 181 acres, requiring an additional 103 acres of land. This has doubled the number of affected landowners.
Farmers oppose land expansion
According to locals, the previous alignment would have taken away some farmland and plots, but left them with partial holdings. With the revised plan, they say all their land will be lost.
“Under the old plan, we would still have some land left. Now the new alignment will take away everything,” a farmer said.
The expansion will also split Choutuppal municipality into eastern and western sections, affecting wards 1, 2 and 3, including Lingareddigudem, Thallasingarama and Lingojigudem.
Allegations of political interference
The southern alignment, running from Choutuppal to Kandi via Chevella, had been finalised by the Centre during the previous government’s tenure. Farmers allege that the current Congress government altered it to suit influential interests.
They point out that in many stretches, the RRR runs just 27–35 km from the Outer Ring Road, compared to 35–40 km elsewhere, fuelling suspicions of political intervention.
Farmers have demanded that the government either stick to the earlier alignment or pay compensation of ₹60 lakh to ₹1 crore per acre at prevailing market rates.
