The Telangana government plans to merge 24 municipalities within the Outer Ring Road (ORR) into the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) in January 2025 as part of its effort to establish the Greater City Corporation (GCC). This merger will expand GHMC's jurisdiction from 650 square kilometres to 1,800-2,000 square kilometres. To balance infrastructure and revenue resources, officials propose creating three separate corporations, each covering 600-650 square kilometres. The integration aims to avoid jurisdictional issues and ensure financial viability by combining developed and underdeveloped areas. With a study underway to evaluate infrastructure, the GCC formation is expected to conclude by December 2025.
As part of the state's ongoing efforts to create a Greater City Corporation (GCC), the Telangana government plans to merge 24 municipalities within the Outer Ring Road (ORR) into the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) in January 2025, upon the completion of their current term. This merger is expected to fast-track the GCC formation, with an aim to complete the entire process by December 2025, or even earlier.
The state government is also considering the appointment of a committee or consultant to evaluate the infrastructure and revenue resources on the ground before finalising the GCC's formation. This study will play a key role in determining how the merging process will unfold.
A senior official from the Municipal Administration Department highlighted that the chief minister had instructed that the proposed GCC should include both developed and under-developed areas. The official explained that certain areas, like the GHMC's southern zone, particularly the Old City, should not be combined with other under-developed regions. Similarly, areas with better infrastructure, such as Serilingampally, should not be merged with regions that have less developed infrastructure. The aim is to ensure the financial viability of the new corporation by balancing areas with strong infrastructure and those that require more development.
Sources mentioned that the merging of municipalities and villages along the ORR would extend the jurisdiction of the GHMC to around 1,800 to 2,000 square kilometres. Currently, the GHMC's jurisdiction is approximately 650 square kilometres.
Given the extensive size of the area covered by the ORR, officials are now proposing the creation of three separate corporations instead of the originally planned two, with each corporation covering an area of 600-650 square kilometres. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is expected to make the final decision on this proposal.
The chief minister has also emphasised that the integration of civic bodies into the GCC should be carried out in a way that avoids jurisdictional issues or confusion, such as splitting a panchayat between the GCC and another municipality outside the ORR, or within different assembly constituencies or districts.
A few months ago, 51 villages located near the ORR were merged with 13 adjoining municipalities. These newly merged gram panchayats, located in Rangareddy, Medchal-Malkajgiri, and Sangareddy, have now been incorporated into municipalities such as Shamshabad, Pedda Amberpet, Narsingi, Tukkuguda, Medchal, Dammaiguda, Nagaram, Pocharam, Gundlapochampally, Thumkunta, Ghatkesar, Tellapur, and Ameenpur. This is part of the broader plan to prepare for the creation of the new mega corporation or corporations in the future.
The planned merger and creation of the Greater City Corporation (GCC) in Hyderabad is set to significantly alter the administrative structure of the city. With careful consideration of infrastructure and revenue sources, the state government aims to ensure a balanced and financially sound approach to development.
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