Overview
- Authorities said 19 people died and more than 30 were injured when a gravel-laden tipper lorry hit a state-run bus head-on in Ranga Reddy district.
- Chevella BJP MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy argued that smoother roads lead to more severe crashes and blamed the previous BRS government for stalling land acquisition.
- Reddy claimed the route was notified as a national highway in 2016 after his appeal to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, asserting that land acquisition then languished for five years.
- BRS figures called his comments insensitive, said the highway was declared in 2021, accused him of backing the Save Banyans case that led to an NGT stay in 2023, and alleged the Centre has yet to start work.
- Reports noted that some legal hurdles have been cleared and limited work has resumed, as former BRS MLAs threatened a Tandur-to-Vikarabad march if construction does not start immediately.