YSRCP Protests Railway Land Evictions, Seeks Pattas for Vijayawada Families

The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) organised a large-scale protest in Old Rajarajeswari Peta under the 56th Division of Vijayawada West Assembly constituency , demanding that the Central and Andhra Pradesh governments protect families facing eviction from railway land. The party called for the immediate suspension of the demolition drive and urged authorities to grant house site pattas to eligible residents who have been living in the area for decades.

The agitation centred on the plight of poor families who have built homes on Indian Railways land and have continued to reside there for more than 32 years . Protesters argued that forcing residents to vacate without offering an alternative place to live would leave hundreds of families homeless. They maintained that rehabilitation should precede any eviction and appealed to the governments to regularise the settlement by issuing permanent land titles to eligible occupants.

Responding to the issue through his official X account, YSRCP NTR district president Devineni Avinash criticised the proposed evictions, stating that removing long-time residents without a rehabilitation plan was unjust. He urged both governments to intervene immediately, halt the eviction process and ensure that deserving families receive permanent housing rights . He also called on the Railway authorities to withdraw the ongoing eviction measures until a fair solution is reached.

The issue reflects a recurring challenge in several cities where long-standing settlements have developed on government and railway land. While public agencies are empowered to reclaim land for infrastructure, courts have repeatedly stressed the importance of following due process and considering rehabilitation measures for economically weaker sections before carrying out large-scale evictions. The demand for balancing development with humanitarian concerns has remained central to such disputes across the country.

The protest was attended by former minister Velampalli Srinivasa Rao , MLC M.D. Ruhullah , and former Vijayawada Mayor Rayana Bhagyalakshmi , along with a large number of YSRCP leaders, party workers and local residents . Participants reiterated that any eviction should be carried out only after providing affected families with suitable rehabilitation, emphasising that protecting the housing rights of vulnerable communities must remain a priority.