‘No metro on Eluru Road’ protest gains steam

Shopkeepers, residents affix posters expressing their reluctance to give land for Amaravati Metro Rail project.

VIJAYAWADA: Acquiring land for executing Amaravati Metro Rail Project on Eluru Road has once again become a major hurdle for the officials as the shopkeepers and residents adjacent to the Eluru Road have launched a novel protest by affixing posters expressing their reluctance to pave way for the execution of Amaravati Metro Rail project.

The posters containing message ‘No Metro Rail Project on Eluru Road’ were affixed in front of their houses and commercial establishments. They have also made it clear that there are not in a position to allow Amaravati Metro Rail Corporation (AMRC) to acquire land for the construction of metro rail corridor on the stretch from Old Bus Stand to Nidamanuru.

It may be recalled that the DMRC has planned to construct two corridors in the city at an estimated cost of Rs 6,823 crore and first trial run of metro rail was expected to be carried out by February 2019. However, the officials have decided to take up the first metro corridor in the city on Eluru Road.

“Earlier, the civic body and R&B officials have acquired some part of my land for widening the Eluru Road stretch. And now, the officials have come to acquire land for constructing the metro corridor. The land acquisition move of the government is making us shelterless,” laments K Srinivasa Rao, a shopkeeper near Machavaram Down.

Majority of the poor and middle class are doing their business on the Eluru Road stretch for decades. “Why the State government was so keen on acquiring the land on Eluru Road, instead it can take up the metro corridor construction on BRTS Road which was developed into a four-lane road with crores of rupees. Moreover, the BRTS Road has viability for executing the project and reduce the burden for the government,” said Ch Nancharaiah, a resident on Eluru Road.

“How can the government unilaterally acquire land on Eluru Road from the residents and shopkeepers without their willingness? If officials try to acquire land forcibly from me, I will approach the High Court and get stay order,” said V Rukmini Devi, a resident.

Amaravati Metro Rail Corporation (AMRC) managing director A Ramakrishna Reddy said that initially the officials have marked the buildings that came across the Eluru Road stretch for constructing the first metro rail corridor. All measures are being taken in compensating the residents and shopkeepers whose lands will be acquired for the proposed project.  “A detailed survey was conducted on Samba Murthy Road and BRTS Road to shift the metro corridor, before finalising Eluru Road stretch. Close to 4,000 persons will  be displaced on Samba Murthy Road. While the BRTS Road was not viable for the project as its length is just 4.5 km,” Reddy said.

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