GHMC bifurcation still open for discussion; govt to consult stakeholders, says Minister Sridhar Babu

Hyderabad: IT Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu on Friday clarified that the State government has not yet taken a final decision on the bifurcation of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).

He said the government would move forward only after consulting all stakeholders and considering diverse opinions.

Participating in the debate on the Municipal and GHMC Amendment Bill in the Telangana Assembly, the Minister said Greater Hyderabad was expanded solely to improve civic services and administrative efficiency.

“We are open to suggestions on whether Greater Hyderabad should be divided into three corporations,” he said.

Focus on civic services and administrative efficiency

The Minister said a structured plan has been prepared to enhance service delivery within the GHMC and strengthen municipal governance.

He assured that ward-level issues would be addressed systematically and that steps were being taken to improve coordination and accountability within the civic body.

Consultation before major urban decisions

Emphasising inclusive decision-making, Sridhar Babu said the government would take a consensus-based approach on major urban reforms, including GHMC restructuring.

“All opinions will be taken into account before any final decision is made,” he added.

‘Open to suggestions on Musi Rejuvenation’

Referring to the Musi River issue, Sridhar Babu said the Chief Minister had not named any individual during discussions in the House. He questioned why Opposition members reacted despite no names being mentioned.

He reiterated that the government is open to constructive suggestions on the Musi rejuvenation project.

Hyderabad AQI at 174

Expressing concern over rising pollution, Sridhar Babu noted that Hyderabad’s Air Quality Index (AQI) currently stands at 174.

To prevent further deterioration, the government has initiated steps to shift industries beyond the Outer Ring Road (ORR).

He also announced plans to expand the Metro Rail network to cover Hyderabad in a ‘360-degree manner.’

To avoid administrative and operational hurdles, the State government has decided to take over the Metro Rail project. In the coming years, the city will transition to operating only electric buses, he added.

Administrative strengthening of GHMC

The Minister said ward-level issues within GHMC would be resolved systematically.

Eight zonal commissioners have already been appointed and two IAS officers have been exclusively assigned to oversee Hyderabad’s administration.

Previous govt left posts at new collectorates vacant

Criticising the previous government, he said districts were increased to 33 and collectorates were constructed without adequate staffing. After coming to power, the present government filled vacancies through the Telangana Public Service Commission (TGPSC).

He also accused the BJP-led Centre of weakening the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and even removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name from it.

Merger of municipalities completed

The merger of 30 municipalities and seven corporations located in the GHMC peripheral area has been officially completed, with the Municipal Administration Department issuing Government Order (GO) No. 264.

Earlier, during the Assembly debate, Ibrahimpatnam MLA Malreddy Ranga Reddy cautioned the government against dividing Ranga Reddy district in the name of Greater Hyderabad expansion. He urged the government to retain the district’s original name and respect public sentiment while taking merger-related decisions.

Owaisi questions GHMC capacity amid city expansion

Akbaruddin Owaisi, floor leader of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), raised serious concerns over rampant illegal constructions and acute staff shortages in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), especially in sanitation and enforcement wings.

Questioning how effective governance was possible without strengthening manpower, he also challenged the rationale of bringing nearly 2,000 sq km under a single civic body.

Owaisi said public infrastructure was already crumbling under the pressure of rapid city expansion and asserted that further mergers would only worsen the situation, rather than offer a sustainable solution.

BJP flags lack of clarity in GHMC Bill

BJP MLA Palvai Harish Babu criticised the Municipal and GHMC Amendment Bill, alleging that it lacked clarity and that the Opposition was not adequately informed.

He argued that merging a 2,000-sq-km area into a single corporation was impractical and claimed that the merger of village panchayats into municipalities and then into GHMC offered no real benefit.

Such mergers, he said, would erase green villages, threaten traditional occupations, sharply increase taxes, and put the identity of Medchal and Ranga Reddy districts at risk. He demanded that the government withdraw the Bill.

CPI calls for caution and decentralisation

CPI MLC Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao welcomed Hyderabad’s growth into a major urban centre but urged the government to proceed cautiously. He stressed the need to assess administrative capacity and avoid mere grand claims of becoming a global city.

“Even light rains lead to traffic congestion in Hyderabad. Core issues like drainage, roads, pollution and urban infrastructure must be addressed through expert consultations,” he said, calling for detailed studies before further expansion.