31-07-2025
Associations collectively voice opposition against proposed mall construction in APSRTC land
Representatives of various people's organisations, political parties and voluntary bodies came together to collectively oppose the government's decision to hand over 4.5 acres of land belonging to the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) in the heart of Vijayawada city to UAE-based Lulu Group International for construction of a shopping mall.
At a roundtable organised by Vijayawada Poura Vedika (Vijayawada Citizens Forum) on Thursday, a resolution was passed to stage a massive dharna at the Old Bus Stand, the proposed site for construction of the mall, on August 6. The members also constituted an RTC Asset Protection Committee with the national working president of All-India Lawyers' Union (AILU) S. Rajendra Prasad as its convenor and called for a broad, apolitical unity to protect RTC lands and ensure the survival of small and middle class traders in the surrounding areas.
Former Minister Vadde Shobhanadreeswara Rao took strong exception to the government selling public assets and said it was against the law. Calling for a united fight, he said that people cannot remain silent spectators when valuable RTC lands worth crores of rupees were being handed over, in Vijayawada and in Visakhapatnam, to the MNC at throwaway prices. He said that it was against the 2012 Land Allotment Act of united Andhra Pradesh, which mandates market value and transparency in land allocation.
Former Mayor Jandhyala Shankar said it was unfortunate that in its eagerness to usher in development, the TDP-led coalition government was losing sight of critical factors like environmental protection and public welfare. He said it would severely harm the interests of the urban residents.
Mr. Rajendra Prasad highlighted the need for a sustained legal, as well as people's struggle, to protect the RTC lands, while the forum's State convener Ch. Baburao called for a united agitation to scuttle the government plans in this regard. He urged all sections — intellectuals, civic leaders, RTC unions, civil society bodies and others to unite for the cause. He said while the market rate of the land was ₹200 per sq. ft on Bandar Road, the valuable RTC land was being given for an alarmingly low rate of ₹1.50 per sq. ft.
Andhra Pradesh Public Transport Department (APPTD) Employees Union State president P. Damodar the RTC unions were ready to make any sacrifice to protect the assets belonging to the Public Transport Department.
Representatives of various organisations like Jana Chaitanya Vedika, A.P. Chamber of Commerce, farmers' associations, hotel owners' association, pensioners' association, tax-payers association and others attended the meeting and expressed solidarity for the cause of protecting APSRTC land.
