BAI Defers Hyderabad Protest After Deputy CM Assures Clearance of Dues

The Builders Association of India state unit postponed its scheduled "Chalo Hyderabad" protest on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, after receiving official assurances from the state government. The decision to defer the demonstration came following a crucial meeting at Praja Bhavan in Hyderabad, where Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka promised to address the grievances of small civil contractors on a priority basis.

The protest was originally scheduled to take place on Thursday. However, the association chose to put the demonstration on hold after representatives of the Builders Association of India and various civil contractors held direct talks with the Deputy Chief Minister at Praja Bhavan. During this meeting, the delegation formally requested the immediate release of their long-pending dues, which currently total nearly Rs. 20,000 crore.

In response to their representation, Deputy Chief Minister Vikramarka assured the builders and contractors that the government would clear pending bills ranging from Rs. 25 lakh to Rs. 1 crore within a month. This assurance provided temporary relief to the contractors, who have been struggling with delayed payments for their completed works.

According to Builders Association of India member DVN Reddy, a significant portion of the outstanding dues is owed to road contractors. Out of the total pending amount, bills for roads contractors alone account for Rs. 7,000 crore.

Following the meeting with the Deputy Chief Minister, DVN Reddy announced that the association had officially decided to postpone the "Chalo Hyderabad" protest. He stated that the contractors would wait to see if the government fulfills its commitment. If the state government fails to deliver on its promise to clear the bills within the stipulated timeframe, the association will review the situation and take a final call on their next course of action after three months.

Prior to their meeting with the Deputy Chief Minister at Praja Bhavan, the contractors had also held discussions earlier in the day with Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy to highlight their financial struggles and press for the clearance of their outstanding bills.