Hyderabad: Gajularamaram bus terminal plan puts government land encroachments in focus

Hyderabad: Plans to develop a state-of-the-art international bus terminal at Gajularamaram have brought large scale encroachments on government land back into focus.

As per information available, a survey conducted by the TGSRTC has revealed that only 85 acres remain out of the 100 acres originally allotted to the corporation, with nearly atleast 15 acres reportedly under encroachment.

RTC officials said the issue had already been brought to the notice of District Collector Manu Choudary, requesting intervention to protect the land and initiate action against encroachers. Despite demolition drives by HYDRA, illegal occupation of government land in Survey No. 307 continues.

It is found that encroachers and land grabbers are allegedly constructing rooms overnight and selling them to unsuspecting buyers. Such activities have continued even as police cases are being registered against those involved.

Several parcels of government land in Gajularamaram were allotted to different organisations during the undivided Andhra Pradesh regime.

These included 16 acres to DIL in Survey Nos. 49/1 to 49/6, 250 acres to the Jeedimetla Industrial Estate in Survey No. 79, and 238 acres in Survey No. 307 and 33.11 acres in Survey No. 308 to APSFC.

As the allotted lands remained vacant for years, encroachers allegedly occupied portions, carved them into plots and sold them.

Even as RTC authorities say steps are being taken to clear the encroachments with the support from all the related departments, concerns are raised over the protection of these valuable public assets.