Hans News Service Vijayawada

ChBaburao, State Secretariat Member of Communist Party of India (Marxist), termed the cancellation of land allotment to Lulu International Holdings as a major victory for people’s struggle. He asserted that movements to protect government lands and oppose indiscriminate allocation to corporates will continue.

The state government informed the High Court through the Advocate General that it has withdrawn its earlier decision to allot land at the old RTC bus stand in Vijayawada for the construction of a Lulu Mall. The decision follows a Public Interest Litigation filed by farmer leader Vadde Shobhanadreeswara Rao, challenging the allotment.

Baburao said the government’s move to cancel the allotment is a clear outcome of sustained public protests and legal intervention. He criticised the earlier decision as a violation of rules and an attempt to hand over valuable public land to a large multinational corporation.

He pointed out that the government had issued GO No 137 on July 5, 2025, leasing 4.17 acres of land worth nearly Rs 400 crore at the old RTC bus stand to Lulu Group for 99 years at a nominal rate of Rs 1.50 per square foot. The proposal also permitted construction of a three-storey commercial complex over 2.32 lakh square feet.

Stating that Lulu is a multinational company with operations across 25 countries and a turnover of over Rs 66,000 crore, Baburao said several protests were organised by CPM, Left parties, trade unions, and civil society groups against the allotment.

A united citizens’ forum had also spearheaded the agitation.

He alleged that the allocation would have weakened the RTC system and adversely impacted small and medium traders in the city.

Due to combined public and legal pressure, the government was compelled to withdraw its decision, he said. Baburao warned that any future attempts to allocate public lands in violation of norms will be strongly resisted, and reiterated that people’s movements to safeguard government properties will continue.