Hyderabad’s proposed expansion of Rajiv Rahadari has triggered fresh concerns among property owners over compensation, project clarity and the impact on established livelihoods. Hundreds of affected residents, traders and property holders gathered at Karkhana on August 11, seeking greater transparency before land acquisition moves ahead. The dispute highlights the challenge of balancing transport infrastructure with the economic security of communities along the corridor.
The Rajiv Rahadari Property Owners’ Joint Action Committee has said it is not opposed to improving the road. Its concern centres on how property losses are being valued. The group wants the compensation approach used for affected owners in Thumkunta to be considered for other locations along the route. The issue is particularly significant because the proposed corridor passes through established urban areas, including Vikrampuri, Karkhana, Vasavi Nagar, Tirumalagiri, Lal Bazar, Lothkunta and Alwal. Earlier planning for the project had involved widening the road to 200 feet, a move that could affect a substantial number of properties. Property owners have questioned the timing of acquisition discussions while the detailed project report is reportedly yet to be finalised. They are seeking clearer information on the final alignment, the exact road width, affected properties and the methodology used to determine compensation.
The compensation gap has become a central point of the dispute. The JAC has cited a government value of around ₹10,600 per square yard at Thumkunta against reported compensation of nearly ₹1 lakh. In the areas currently affected, protesters said the government value was about ₹55,000 per square yard, while the proposed compensation was around ₹1.41 lakh. Some commercial property owners have separately argued that prevailing market values are considerably higher. These figures are claims made by affected owners and have not been independently verified. The dispute also has a wider economic dimension. For commercial property owners, acquisition can affect not only land value but also rental income, shops and established customer networks. For households, losing a property may require relocation and rebuilding a source of income elsewhere. Earlier discussions around Rajiv Rahadari have also focused on the scale of widening and its impact on properties. The proposed corridor is linked to a larger transport upgrade between the Secunderabad area and the Shamirpet side, with earlier plans identifying an approximately 18-km stretch for improvement.
For Hyderabad, the immediate challenge is to maintain momentum on critical transport infrastructure while ensuring that affected communities have access to clear information and a transparent acquisition process. A credible compensation framework, public disclosure of the final alignment and meaningful consultation could help reduce uncertainty before construction advances.
