Hyderabad, Telangana: The Telangana government is deliberating ambitious plans to restructure civic governance in Greater Hyderabad, contemplating between establishing a single Greater City Corporation encompassing all 21 municipalities and seven municipal corporations within the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority’s Outer Ring Road jurisdiction, or dividing the city into 3-4 major corporations akin to the model seen in Delhi.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy directed the municipal administration department in March to formulate expansion strategies for the city in response to its rapid development. Detailed assessments are underway to gather comprehensive data on population demographics, infrastructure, revenue generation, and administrative logistics of the municipalities and corporations under consideration.
Senior officials have indicated that proposals for a new mega civic body will soon be presented to the Chief Minister. Discussions include the administrative structure, potential zoning strategies, and leadership roles within the envisioned Greater City Corporation. Currently, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is headed by a senior IAS officer serving in the capacity of commissioner, raising considerations for a special chief secretary or another senior IAS cadre officer to lead the expanded entity. The option of forming a single corporation would consolidate governance over a population estimated between 1.2 to 1.3 crore, presenting both administrative efficiencies and challenges, as noted by senior officials. Alternatively, dividing the city into multiple corporations would involve merging neighboring municipalities into cohesive units, aligning with geographic and demographic considerations across western, northern, eastern, and central sectors.
Financial viability remains a crucial factor in these deliberations, with particular attention to revenue streams such as property taxes and building fees. Officials underscored the necessity of integrating less economically robust areas, like the southern Old City, into larger entities to ensure sustainable financial independence and operational viability. Implementation of these restructuring plans is projected for next year, following the conclusion of current municipal terms in February 2025 and subsequent municipal body elections in February 2026. Legislative amendments to municipal acts and comprehensive resolutions from civic bodies are anticipated to facilitate the transition towards the proposed civic governance models. The Telangana government’s strategic reorganization of Hyderabad’s civic landscape aims to optimize administrative efficiency, improve service delivery, and stimulate comprehensive urban development across the metropolitan region.
