The government has stepped up its land acquisition drive for the Musi Riverfront Development project by issuing multiple notices to landowners. These include areas between Himayatsagar and Bapughat, Osmansagar and Bapughat, and the Gandhi Sarovar project site. Gandhi Sarovar aims to build the world’s tallest Mahatma Gandhi statue at the confluence of Esi and Musi rivers, the place where Bapuji's ashes were immersed. On February 10, the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation Limited invited landowners on both sides of the 9.2 km stretch of Esi river (Himayatsagar to Gandhi Sarovar) and the 11.8 km stretch of Musi river (Osmansagar to Gandhi Sarovar) to voluntarily surrender land. They will receive transferable development rights (TDRs) in exchange. Survey numbers from areas like Kismatpur, Hyderguda, Bandlaguda Jagir, Budvel, Upparpally, Gandipet, and others were mentioned. Additional notifications by Revenue Divisional Officer, Rajendra Nagar, listed several properties for acquisition in Kismatpur village and Bandlaguda Jagir, covering 29 acres from these two villages alone. A December 16, 2025 gazette notification exempted the project from Social Impact Assessment and food security rules under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. The total land acquisition for the Musi project is 3,279 acres and includes 10,017 properties along the 55 km river stretch through the city. Officials, speaking anonymously, confirmed that land acquisition is progressing both for the Gandhi Sarovar project and to clear the Maximum Flood Level and buffer zones along the river. The government has marked 50 metres on both sides of the Maximum Flood Level as the buffer zone. This development marks an aggressive step by the government to transform the Musi riverfront area and create landmark projects along the river. (Published February 13, 2026 08:36 pm IST)