Full Breakdown
Union Minister Declares Land Acquisitions for Hyderabad High-Speed Rail Corridors Illegal
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Clarification on Land Acquisition
On October 10, Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy stated that any land acquisition being carried out for the proposed Hyderabad–Chennai, Hyderabad–Bengaluru and Hyderabad–Pune high-speed rail corridors is illegal because the Railways has not issued an official requisition to the concerned state governments. He said the clarification was given after a meeting with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in New Delhi.
Alignment Studies and Project Status
Both ministers indicated that alignment studies for all three corridors are currently underway. According to Minister Vaishnaw, once the routes are finalized, the alignment details will be shared with the respective state governments and with farmers whose land may be affected. The three corridors are part of a broader plan announced in the Union Budget for 2026-27, which earmarked seven high-speed rail corridors across the country, including the Hyderabad-Chennai, Hyderabad-Bengaluru and Hyderabad-Pune links.
Concerns from State Governments and Farmers
The clarification comes amid land-acquisition efforts by the Telangana government for the rail corridor and other infrastructure projects on Hyderabad’s outskirts. Farmers have resisted these efforts, citing uncertainty over the final routes and potential loss of agricultural land. State officials have expressed the need for clear alignment information before proceeding with any acquisition.
Implications for the Project Timeline
Because no requisition has been sent, any ongoing acquisition attempts are deemed unlawful under the ministers’ statements. This stance may delay land-acquisition processes until the alignment studies are completed and formal requisitions are issued. The ministries have not provided a specific timeline for when the final routes will be announced.
Next Steps
The ministries indicated that details will be communicated to state governments and landowners after the alignment studies are concluded. No further dates have been announced for the release of route information or for the commencement of land-acquisition procedures.