Hyderabad: Core Urban Act to replace GHMC Act; CM Revanth announces 99-day reform program

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has directed officials to draft a new Core Urban Act to replace the existing GHMC Act for areas falling within the Outer Ring Road (ORR).

The move is aimed at streamlining urban governance in Hyderabad,

The proposed legislation will be applicable to the three municipal corporations within ORR limits and will serve as the legal framework for permissions, fee structures, development works, and overall urban management.

The Chief Minister issued the directions during a review meeting of the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) Department at the State Secretariat on Friday.

He said development works within municipal limits would be taken up on priority under the government’s ambitious 99-day programme.

New urban framework for uniform governance

The Chief Minister instructed that all roads currently under Roads & Buildings (R&B) and other departments within the Core Urban Area be brought under MAUD jurisdiction to eliminate administrative overlap and confusion.

He said unified control would ensure faster decision-making and uniform development standards. Officials also presented models of proposed elevated corridors aimed at easing traffic congestion at key junctions. The Chief Minister reviewed the designs and offered suggestions for improvements.

Sanitation First: Designated garbage zones

Emphasising sanitation as a top priority, the Chief Minister noted that residents are dumping garbage in open spaces due to the absence of designated disposal areas. He directed officials to first identify proper garbage dumping locations and install signboards. Strict action should then be taken against those violating the norms.

Tech-driven road monitoring

Revanth Reddy called for technology-based monitoring of road construction. Drawing parallels with the Employment Guarantee Scheme model, he suggested that once roads are laid, they should not be relaid before a specified lifespan. If roads are dug up or reconstructed prematurely, accountability must be fixed on the responsible agencies.

He also ordered that every streetlight in the Core Urban Area be mapped onto a digital dashboard to enable real-time monitoring and immediate resolution of faults.

Food safety under surveillance

Stressing food safety, the Chief Minister directed the installation of CCTV cameras in hotel kitchens across the city, to be linked to the Command Control Centre for continuous monitoring and regular inspections. He proposed a rating system for hotels based on compliance with food safety standards.

Fire safety for high-rise buildings

With the increasing construction of buildings exceeding 50 floors, the Chief Minister underscored the need to procure advanced firefighting equipment capable of handling high-rise emergencies. He also suggested installing rainwater harvesting wells at city circles and introducing unipoles as multi-utility structures.

Focus on lakes, heritage, and Future City

The Chief Minister instructed officials to take up the protection and beautification of major lakes and ponds in the city. Water bodies safeguarded by HYDRAA should not merely be fenced, he said, but developed into tourist attractions.

He also directed that historically significant structures be explored and developed as tourism destinations.

Reviewing progress in the Bharat Future City project, Revanth Reddy ordered that government office buildings be completed within stipulated timelines with strict adherence to quality standards. Necessary approvals, he said, must be obtained without delay to fast-track construction.

The proposed Core Urban Act is expected to bring structural reforms in urban governance, improve accountability, and accelerate infrastructure development across Hyderabad’s core metropolitan region, officials said.