Union Minister G Kishan Reddy has warned that any land acquisition being carried out in the name of three proposed high-speed rail corridors connecting Hyderabad with Chennai, Bengaluru and Pune is illegal at this stage. The clarification follows concerns over land acquisition activities in Telangana, where farmers have raised objections to proposed infrastructure projects.
Reddy made the statement after meeting Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to discuss the progress of the proposed corridors. According to Reddy, the Railways Ministry has not sent any formal land acquisition requisition to the concerned state governments.
Three Proposed High-Speed Rail Corridors Under Study
The proposed routes are intended to improve connectivity between Hyderabad and three major economic centres:
- Hyderabad-Chennai: Expected to strengthen connectivity between Telangana and Tamil Nadu.
- Hyderabad-Bengaluru: Intended to improve links between two major technology and business hubs.
- Hyderabad-Pune: Proposed to provide faster connectivity between Hyderabad and Maharashtra’s major industrial centre.
These corridors were included among the high-speed rail projects announced in the Union Budget for 2026-27. However, their final routes have not yet been confirmed.
Alignment Studies Are Still Underway
According to Kishan Reddy, Ashwini Vaishnaw clarified that alignment studies for all three corridors are currently in progress. The studies will help determine the routes and other technical details needed before the projects advance further.
Once the alignments are finalised, the Railways Ministry will share the details with the respective state governments and affected farmers.
The absence of a finalised route means that land acquisition cannot be treated as an officially initiated process for these corridors, the ministers indicated.
Farmers Raise Concerns Over Land Acquisition
The clarification comes amid growing concerns over land acquisition activities on the outskirts of Hyderabad. Farmers and landowners have opposed certain actions linked to proposed infrastructure projects, particularly around areas where the routes remain uncertain.
Land acquisition is a sensitive issue for residents whose livelihoods depend on agricultural property. Uncertainty over project boundaries can also create anxiety among landowners about compensation, relocation and the future use of their land.
The Centre’s statement is intended to clarify the current status of the high-speed rail proposals and distinguish preliminary planning from the formal acquisition process.
What Happens Next?
The next major step is the completion of the alignment studies. Once the routes are finalised, the Railways Ministry is expected to communicate the details to state authorities and farmers before the projects move towards subsequent stages.
Until then, the Centre has stated that no formal land acquisition requisitions have been issued for the three proposed corridors. The latest clarification could provide some reassurance to landowners concerned about acquisition in the name of the high-speed rail projects.
Summary
Union Minister Kishan Reddy has said that land acquisition for the proposed Hyderabad-Chennai, Hyderabad-Bengaluru and Hyderabad-Pune high-speed rail corridors is unauthorised at this stage because the Centre has not sent formal requisitions to state governments. Alignment studies are ongoing, and the final routes will be shared with state authorities and farmers once they are approved.
