BRS leader K.T. Rama Rao joins residents in a Musi Dandi March at Hyder Shah Kote, pledging support to families fearing displacement due to the Gandhi Sarovar project.

BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao on Sunday marched nearly two kilometres along the Musi river stretch at Hyder Shah Kote, standing alongside residents who fear displacement under the proposed Gandhi Sarovar project.

The demonstration, termed a “Musi Dandi March,” drew hundreds of party workers and locals from Gandhamguda, Shivaram Colony, Dream Homes and nearby neighbourhoods. Many families told Rao they had invested their life savings into building homes, often through long-term loans, and now face uncertainty over demolition.

Interacting with residents at Bandlaguda Jagir, KTR assured them that the issue would be taken up in the upcoming Assembly session beginning March 16. He pledged the party’s backing to property owners who say their houses could be affected by the project.

Several residents grew emotional during the march, saying they have lived in the colonies for over a decade and have regularly paid property taxes and EMIs. They appealed for protection of their homes, arguing that the project should not come at the cost of their livelihoods.

The protest signals rising tension around urban redevelopment initiatives linked to the Musi river. While infrastructure projects are often positioned as long-term public benefits, local resistance highlights the need for transparent rehabilitation plans and fair compensation mechanisms. Without clear communication and safeguards, such projects risk deepening mistrust between authorities and affected communities.