Tension prevails during demolition drive

Tirupati: Mild tension prevailed near Rayalacheruvu railway gate on Saturday over the demolition of seven houses at Goplaraju Colony on the south side of Tirupati railway station. In view of the development works at south side of the station, the railway authorities purchased 1.82 acres land from the private persons in 2015.

Highlights:

• Residents oppose forceful acquisition of houses 
•  Land required for railways to construct an additional platform

While all other houses were acquired by railway authorities, residents living in seven houses spread over 20 cents did not agree to vacate. They did not take the compensation amount towards the acquisition and even the court verdict was against them. 

As the railway authorities have approached the revenue and police officials appraising them the need to acquire those seven houses to extend the additional platform, they gave notices to the house owners to vacate the houses before January 20. 

Seeking more time to vacate, the denizens objected the officials to proceed further. The Urban Tahsildar, police and railway officials made it clear that they cannot give additional time as already it was given on several occasions and demolished the houses using the JCB paving the way for continuing the ongoing development works. 

When contacted, Tirupati Station Director K Satyanarayana has said that, the railways have issued number of notices to those residents of seven houses and they did not oblige them. Railways already paid compensation which they did not receive so far. When they are told to vacate by January 12 they approached local MLA and TUDA Chairman. 

On their advice, time was given till Saturday. Vacating the residents and demolishing the structures became inevitable to proceed with the development works. There is an immediate need of diverting a big drain there for which demolition was undertaken immediately.