SC blocks Vizag studio land conversion, orders govt response by March

VISHAKHAPATNAM: The Supreme Court on Friday issued a stay order, halting the conversion of Ramanaidu Studios on Visakhapatnam Beach Road into a housing project. The court also sent notices to the state government, mandating a response by March 11.

A 2003 government order allocating 35 acres of land to filmmaker D. Rama Naidu for developing a cinema studio, aiming to boost Telugu film production. However, in a recent turn of events, Daggubati Suresh Kumar, associated with the project, submitted a plan for transforming the studio space into a luxury housing complex.

This proposed deviation from the original purpose sparked public concern, leading Visakhapatnam East MLA Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The court, however, dismissed the case, citing a lack of demonstrable public interest. Undeterred, the MLA pursued the matter further, seeking recourse in the Supreme Court.

His persistence proved successful, as the Supreme Court acknowledged the concerns regarding the land's intended use and granted the stay order. This effectively puts the housing project on hold until the court hears the case and deems its compliance with the 2003 government order.