Roundtable Opposes Change in Alignment of Bullet Train Corridor
Political leaders and civil society groups opposed the proposed realignment of the Hyderabad–Chennai bullet train corridor, urging the Telangana government to retain the original route via Nakrekal and Suryapet.
Cutting across party lines, political leaders and people’s organisations have on Tuesday asked the Telangana government to withdraw its decision to change the alignment of the Hyderabad-Chennai bullet train corridor.
A roundtable meeting had been organised in the meeting hall of a private school at Nakrekal in Nalgonda district to chalk out an action plan for an agitation opposing the change in alignment of the bullet train.
Speaking at the round table, BRS leader K. Nageshwara Rao reminded that the bullet train had originally been proposed through Nakrekal and Suryapet. He strongly opposed the move of the state government to change the alignment through Future City and Nagarjuna Sagar, dropping Nakrekal and Suryapet.
The BRS leader pointed out that National Highway 65 connecting Hyderabad and Vijayawada passes through Nakrekal and Suryapet. Likewise, the bullet train route from Hyderabad to Chennai via Vijayawada must pass through Suryapet.
CPI (M) leader B. Venkateshwarlu pointed out that Nalgonda, Suryapet, and Yadadri-Bhongir districts would economically develop if the alignment of bullet train corridor remains through Choutuppal, Nakrekal, and Suryapet. Production of paddy, cotton, and chilli is also high in these districts. The bullet train route would help farmers transport their goods economically, he stated.
Telangana Jana Samithi state secretary Kuntla Dharmarjun underlined that there is an urgent need for a united movement to mount pressure on the state government so as not to change the alignment of the bullet train corridor. The movement must be as strong as the one for Telangana agitation, he underlined.
Human Rights Forum district president Akkenapalli Veeraswamy, CPI (ML-New Democracy) leader K. Davind Kumar, Mahajana Sena state president Kothapalli Prabhakar, and others spoke at the roundtable.
